LIBEARY 

OF   THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

Snelf,    I05~X$^ 

Hook,  ^_    # 



I 


MEMOIR 


OP 


OR, 

CHRISTIAN  ACTIVITY,  AND  TRIUMPH 
IN  SUFFERING. 


BY   REV.  ROBERT    G.   ARMSTRONG,  A.  M. 

PASTOR   OF   A   CHURCH    IN    FISHKILL,  N.  Y. 


PUBLISHED  BY   THE 

AMERICAN     TRACT     SOCIETY, 
150   NASSAU-STREET,  NEW-YORK. 


D.  Fanahtw,  Printer. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1837,  by 
Robert  G.  Armstrong,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District 
Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New-York. 

Right  of  publishing  transferred  to  American  Tract  Society. 


PREFACE. 

Memoirs  of  the  pious  dead  should  be  regarded  as 
intimately  associated,  in  theirobject  and  tendency,  with 
the  instructive  biographies  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  ; 
and  as  carrying  out  the  original  designs  of  the  Spirit 
of  Inspiration  in  the  abounding  narrative  of  the  Bible. 

This  method  of  communicating  instruction  is  admi- 
rably adapted  to  secure,  in  reference  to  such  beings  as 
we  are,  the  most  important  ends. 

We  are  taught,  alike  in  Scripture  biography  and  in 
the  lives  of  departed  saints,  the  practical  effects  oj 
divine  truth  upon  the  heart  and  conscience.  We  see 
the  influence  upon  those  of  like  passions  with  us,  of 
principles  purifying  and  controlling ;  at  war  with  every 
sinful  inclination,  and  successfully  struggling  with 
every  unruly  passion  ;  and  are  thus  effectually  taught 
what  we,  by  grace,  may  be. 

The  recorded  dealings  of  God's  providence  with  his 
people  are  also  an  instructive  commentary  by  which 
the  import  of  his  promises  is  clearly  and  impressive- 
ly illustrated.  Here  we  see  how  much  he  does  for 
them  ;  how  freely  he  forgives  their  sins ;  how  faithfully 
he  keeps  his  word,  and  how  he  watches  over  them 
with  a  warm,  a  lasting,  and  a  sleepless  friendship. 

Besides,  the  history  of  each  individual  who  has 
finished  the  christian  course  in  triumph,  adds  another 
to  the  "great  cloud  of  witnesses"  by  which  we  are 

H.  H. 


4  PREFACE. 

11  surrounded"  who  testify  to  the  faithfulness  of  God, 
and  the  reality,  power,  and  excellency  of  religion. 

If  the  humble,  retiring  individual,  whose  narrative 
is  here  given,  "being  dead,"  shall  "  speak"  with  pow- 
er to  any — if  this  little  volume  shall  pay  a  visit  ot 
mercy  to  the  sufferer — if  it  shall  ever  be  found  the 
companion  of  a  sleepless  pillow,  guiding  the  inquiring 
soul  to  Christ,  or  kindling  the  graces  of  any  of  his 
people,  or  lighting  up  a  smile  in  the  hour  of  death, 
its  errand  of  love  will  not  be  in  vain. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  selections  from  what 
she  had  written  are  frequently  abridged,  condensed 
and  simplified  ;  but  the  original  sentiment  is  in  all 
cases  carefully  retained. 

H.  H.  * 


« <s>  av  a  sr  3?  8  • 


CHAPTER  I. 


Early  life  of  Hannah  Hobbie— pious  education— con- 
viction of  sin — sickness — mistakes — sufferings — 
dream — false  refuges  forsaken — conversion — joy 
— view  of  her  afflictions — illustrations  of  Divine 
truth.    [October  13,  1806,  to  1825.]  9 

CHAPTER  II. 

Power  of  religion  in  sickness — afflictions  blest—in- 
terview— letters  to  aunts  and  a  cousin.  [1825  to 
April,  1827.]  22 

CHAPTER  III. 

Commences  her  Journal — how  written— devotes  her 
self  to  God — resignation — views  of  the  Sabbath — 
thinks  her  life  short — revival  of  religion — anxiety 
for  her  father — renews  her  covenant — letter  to  an 
aunt — her  father's  conversion — she  unites  with  the 
church — beautiful  scenery — reflections— self-dedi- 
cation.   [August  to  November,  1827.]  31 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Views  of  duty— desire   for  God's  presence — letter 
to  a  cousin — wishes  to  die — submissive — letter  to 
1* 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 


her  cousin  J.  H:  H.— delightful  exercises— inter- 
view— reflections — desires  to  be  useful  and  holy — 
Lord's  supper — carried  into  the  garden — an  era  in 
her  christian  life.    [December  1827  to  May,  1828.]        53 

CHAPTER  V. 

Death  of  Miss  L. — reflections — letter  to  her  cousin 
Frances  M. — no  fear  of  death— delight  in  God's 
word — prayers  answered— renews  her  covenant 
with  God  every  Sabbath — letter  to  a  cousin  re- 
cently married — to  an  aunt— great  sufferings — 
given  over  by  her  physicians.  [May  to  Sept.  1828.]        73 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Joy  and  triumph  in  God — death  solemn — certain — 
welcome  to  her — letter  to  an  afflicted  friend — visit 
of  a  minister — high  enjoyment — prayer  of  faith — 
answered — exalted  themes — heavenly  state  of 
mind— the  Bible  her  chief  study — the  Psalms — de- 
lightful interview — watchfulness— redemption — 
joy  in  God.     [September  to  November,  1828.]  94 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Her  modesty — Female  Benevolent  Society — revi- 
val—secret of  her  eminence — marriage  of  her 
sister — reflections — New- Year— visit — grave-yard 
— animal  creation — interview— letter  to  a  fellow- 
sufferer — resolves  to  overcome  hindrances  to  duty 
—speaking  for  God.    [Dec.  1828  to  March,  1829.]       114 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Renewed  attack  of  her  disease— God  purifies  by  af- 
fliction— clear  views  of  sin — sister  removes — re- 


CONTENTS. 


Pagt. 


newed  efforts  to  do  good — letter  to  four  female 
cousins — female  prayer-meeting — letters — her  cup 
of  blessing  overflows— prayers  and  meditations- 
rides  out.     [March  to  August,  1829.]  138 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Blessing  of  relief  from  pain — death  of  J G , 

a  female  friend — visit  to  her  residence — reflections 
on  the  death  of  H.— birth-day— letter  to  her  cou- 
sins— Lord's  supper  at  Capt.  C's — severe  conflict — 
erects  her  Ebenezer — Lord's  supper — letter  to 
Frances  M.— rides  to  Capt.  C's.  [August  1829  to 
February,  1830.]  159 

CHAPTER  X. 

Christian  progress — she  prays  much— salvation 
of  relatives — views  of  a  profession  of  religion — 
reflections  after  seven  years'  sickness — letter  to  an 
uncle — meeting — her  sister's  conversion — her  Sab- 
bath-school  formed.    [February  to  June,  1830.]  178 

CHAPTER  XL 

Ride  to  Mr.  Hobbie's — the  house — beauty  and  subli- 
mity of  the  landscape — letters  to  J.  H.  H. — Mrs. 
G's  death— letter  to  J.  H.  H  —  to  Miss  E.  B.— meet- 
ing at  Capt.  C's— her  birth-day— resolutions.  [June 
to  October,  1830.]  192 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Rapid  decline— death  seems  near— prepares — influ- 
ence of  habits  of  life  on  piety— clear  hope— let- 


8  CONTENTS. 

Pago 
ters — care  of  her  heart — rejoices  in  view  of  death 
—her  quiet  spirit.     [Oct.  1830  to  Feb.  1831.]  211 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Prominent  traits  of  her  christian  character — her  stand- 
ard of  piety  high— deep  sense  of  sin — evil  of  her 
heart — repentance— love  to  Christ— love  of  the 
truth— of  the  Sabbath — of  prayer — of  christians — 
anxiety  for  sinners — for  success  of  the  cause  of 
Christ— joy  in  doing  good — fellowship — how  to 
prepare  for  death.  226 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Delightful  interview — her  heavenly  spirit — visit  to 
her  death-bed — affecting  incident — disposes  of  her 
Journal — directions  respecting  her  funeral — fare- 
well reflections — her  death — conclusion.  [Feb.  to 
March  21, 1831.]  343 


MEMOIR 


OF 


HANNAH    HOBBIE 


CHAPTER  I. 


Hannah  Hobbte  was  the  daughter  of  Caleb  K. 
and  Clarina  Hobbie,  of  the  town  of  Northeast, 
Dutchess  county,  New-York.  She  was  born  Octo- 
ber 13,  1806. 

Her  family  were  of  that  respectable  and  substan- 
tial class  which  stands  at  an  equal  remove  from 
the  rich  and  the  poor.  Possessing  what  Agur  so 
wisely  desired,  neither  poverty  nor  riches,  they 
were  happy  in  comparative  exemption  from  the 
temptations  which  are  incident  to  both. 

From  this  class  of  society  I  believe  God  has  ever 
taken  the  greatest  proportion,  and,  if  I  mistake  not, 
the  most  efficient  of  his  people ;  and  the  members 
of  this  family  have  been  consecrated  by  the  Spirit, 
one  after  another,  to  his  service,  as  fast  as  they  have 
grown  up  to  maturity.  At  the  time  at  which  this 
narrative  commences,  none  of  the  family  but  Mrs. 
Hobbie  belonged  to  the  church  of  Christ.  I  have 
had  the  happiness  since  of  receiving,    at  different 


10  MEMOIR    OF 

times,  her  husband  and  three  of  her  children,  as 
members  of  the  church  to  which  I  then  ministered. 
Others  have  joined  themselves  to  the  people  of 
God  in  a  distant  part  of  the  state. 

Hannah  was  the  second  daughter.  She  was  re- 
markable from  childhood  for  a  solidity  of  mind  and 
sobriety  of  deportment  not  frequently  found  in 
the  buoyant  season  of  youth ;  was  dutiful  to  her 
parents,  and  affectionate  and  even-tempered  to- 
wards her  brothers  and  sisters  and  companions. 

The  religious  instruction  which  she  received 
from  her  mother,  and  which,  doubtless,  greatly  con- 
tributed to  establish  the  equanimity  of  temper  and 
sobriety  of  behavior  which  so  strongly  character- 
ized her  early  years,  seems  to  have  made  an  abid- 
ing, though  not  an  awakening  impression  upon  her 
mind.  From  a  sketch  she  left  of  her  sufferings  and 
exercises,  I  find  that  though  at  an  early  age  she 
seems  to  have  been  sensible  of  the  importance  of 
religion,  and  to  have  had  many  serious  impressions, 
none  of  them  were  lasting.  Her  first  decided  con- 
victions of  sin  were  during  a  revival  of  religion  in 
the  neighborhood  in  which  she  lived,  when  she  was 
about  fifteen  years  of  age.  At  that  time  her  atten- 
tion became  fixed  upon  her  eternal  welfare  in  a 
manner  which,  to  her,  was  new,  and  she  saw  that 
to  that  period  she  had  lived  (under  all  her  advan- 
tages) in  strange  ignorance  of  herself,  of  sin,  and 
of  God.    She  was  deeply  sensible  that,  under  the 


HANNAH    HOISBIE.  11 

holy  administration  of  God's  government,  gracious 
and  merciful  as  it  is,  there  is  no  peace  to  the  wicked; 
and  felt  that,  as  she  had  been  a  great  transgressor, 
there  was  none  for  her. 

In  the  paper  which  I  have  mentioned,  and  which 
begins  with  that  appropriate  expression  of  the 
Psalmist,  M  Come,  all  ye  that  fear  God,  and  I  will 
tell  you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul,,,  having 
alluded  to  the  visit  of  a  pious  missionary,  who  had 
called  upon  the  family  and  conversed  with  her, 
she  says  : 

"  Eeing  deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  my 
lost  and  perishing  condition,  soon  after  he  left  us 
I  retired  by  myself  to  pray  ;  and  solemnly  resolved, 
that,  let  what  would  be  the  consequence,  I  would 
endeavor  to  seek  that  religion  which  I  considered 
of  the  utmost  importance,  and  without  which  I  was 
sensible  I  never  should  know  true  happiness.  My 
health  was  pretty  good ;  but  I  knew  enough  of  the 
influence  of  disease  to  convince  me  that  repent- 
ance should  not  be  put  off  till  a  time  of  sickness,  or 
the  hour  of  death.  I  therefore  prayed  that  I  might 
not  delay  the  important  work." 

This  was  six  months  subsequent  to  her  being 
awakened ;  and  after  the  expiration  of  another  half 
year,  she  says  of  herself: 

11  I  continued  to  seek  for  peace  and  pardon ;  but 


12  MEMOIR    OF 

depending  too  much  on  my  own  strength,  instead 
of  submitting  entirely  to  God,  I  was,  in  a  measure, 
left  to  myself,  and  in  the  course  of  the  following 
winter  grew  somewhat  careless,  sometimes  neg- 
lecting the  duty  of  prayer.  My  health,  for  some 
time,  appeared  to  be  declining;  but  I  was  not 
aware  of  the  danger  which  threatened  me,  and 
made  very  little  complaint.  Knowing  that  the  Lord 
did  it,  I  opened  not  my  mouth.'* 

Her  state,  a  half  year  still  later,  is  thus  de- 
scribed : 

"  On  the  26th  of  April,  1823,  I  was  laid  upon  a 
bed  of  sickness,  and  commenced  a  course  of  medi- 
cine. My  physician,  after  making  two  or  three 
visits,  intimated  that  such  was  the  nature  of  my 
complaint,  it  would  probably  be  permanent.  A  con- 
sulting physician  was  called,  and  coincided  with 
this  opinion.  This  excited  neither  fear  nor  alarm ; 
I  thought  it  was  intended  for  my  good,  and  that  it 
was  all  for  the  best.  I  was  brought,  apparently,  near 
the  grave.  For  several  weeks  after  this  I  was  al- 
most insensible  of  spiritual  things.' ' 

She  speaks  of  her  physician  very  kindly  and 
thankfully;  and  having  been  relieved,  in  some  mea- 
sure, from  her  pains  two  or  three  months  after  this, 
she  ascribes  it  (under  God)  to  his  "  kind  and  unre- 
mitting attention." 


HANNAH    HOBE1E.  13 

Who  does  not  sec  that  in  her  distress  she  fled 
to  every  refuge  but  the  right  one  ]  She  prayed  to 
he  made  happy,  but  she  found  no  relief;  she  wept 
at  the  misery  of  her  condition,  and  in  view  of  coming 
wrath,  but  her  guilt  still  lay  heavy  upon  her,  and 
her  conscience  troubled  her  with  ceaseless  upbraid- 
in  £s.  The  congregation  to  which  she  belonged  was 
then  without  a  pastor ;  and  like  many  others  in  her 
situation,  she  concealed  the  state  of  her  mind,  and 
became  at  length  almost  as  careless  as  before. 

It  was  at  this  critical  period  of  her  spiritual  con- 
dition that  I  was  called  to  that  field  of  labor,  and 
became  acquainted  with  the  state  of  her  mind, 
which  she  has  herself  briefly  described  : 

"  I  was  almost  insensible  of  my  sin  and  danger ; 
but  after  one  or  two  visits  from  our  friend  and  pas- 
tor, who  urged  upon  me  the  necessity  of  being  pre- 
pared for  death,  I  was  led  to  reflect  on  the  past 
exercises  of  my  mind,  and  to  renew  the  practice  of 
that  duty  which  I  had  so  much  neglected.  I  suf- 
fered much ;  but  thought  it  a  punishment  for  my 
sins  which  I  justly  deserved,  and  seldom  felt  the 
least  disposition  to  complain,  or  to  think  my  lot 
hard.  When  I  considered  how  much  less  my  suf- 
ferings were  than  they  might  be,  and  how  much 
less  than  I  really  deserved,  I  found  I  had  more 
reason  to  be  thankful  than  to  complain. 

H.  Hobble.  2 


14  MEMOIR    OF 

"  About  this  time  I  was  greatly  alarmed  by  a 
dream.  I  had  been  more  unwell  for  a  week,  which 
probably  was  the  occasion  of  it.  In  my  dream,  my 
physician  came  to  see  me,  and  on  his  first  entering 
the  room  there  seemed  an  unusual  solemnity  on 
his  countenance.  He  examined  my  symptoms,  said 
but  little,  and  did  nothing  for  me.  He  seemed  to 
hesitate  about  leaving  me.  I  could  not  imagine  the 
cause  of  his  solemnity.  He  at  length  departed  ;  but 
soon  returned,  and  with  the  same  solemnity,  and 
apparently  with  great  reluctance,  told  me  that  I 
was  not  as  well ;  that  I  should  not  live  longer  than 
till  the  next  week ;  that  by  that  time  I  should  be 
so  poor  that  my  bones  would  pierce  through  my 
skin.  I  knew  that  I  was  not  prepared  for  the  im- 
portant event.  «I  supposed  my  time  short,  and,  in 
dreadful  agony,  wrung  my  hands  and  cried  aloud 
for  mercy ;  urging  the  doctor  not  to  leave  me.  He 
promised  to  come  the  next  day,  and  departed.  I 
awoke  in  a  profuse  perspiration,  and  in  great  agi- 
tation on  account  of  my  dream.  Though  only  a 
dream,  it  made  a  strong  impression  on  my  mind.  I 
told  it  to  no  one. 

"  My  sufferings  greatly  increased,  and  I  was  in 
great  distress  of  body  as  well  as  mind.  The  next 
Sabbath  was,  I  think,  the  most  trying  day  I  had 
ever  experienced.  In  my  distress  1  cried  unto  the 
Lord :  I  said  within  myself,  surely  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  is  upon  me.  My  dream  was  continually  before 


HAWAII    HOBBIE.  15 

me ;  nor  did  I  soon  forget  it.  I  thought  it  was  to 
show  me  that  my  time  was  short,  and  to  awaken 
me  to  immediate  preparation  for  death." 

Her  own  remarks  respecting  this  dream  show 
that  she  attached  to  it  no  undue  importance,  but 
improved  it  wisely.  The  reader  will  perceive,  that 
though  her  life  was  continued  many  years,  the  suf- 
fering and  emaciation  of  which  she  now  dreamed, 
became  at  last  a  matter  of  history. 

Some  time  after  this  she  thus  writes  : 

<c  It  seemed  as  if  I  had  endured  enough  to  wean 
me  from  the  world ;  but  I  still  felt  that  my  attach- 
ment to  it  was  strong.  My  sufferings,  however, 
tended  somewhat  to  draw  off  my  affections  from 
terrestrial  enjoyments,  and  to  engage  me  more 
earnestly  in  pursuit  of  those  which  are  incorrupti- 
ble and  fade  not  away. 

<(  In  the  following  summer  I  had  some  degree  of 
hope,  but  I  soon  found  that  I  had  still  a  heart  of 
unbelief,  and  again  almost  despaired  of  mercy." 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  period  embraced  in 
these  extracts,  I  had  visited  her,  and  felt  anxious 
to  learn  the  real  state  of  her  mind.  Although  she 
seemed  at  first  reluctant  to  rive  me  a  faithful  ac- 

o 

count  of  her  former  and  present  feelings,  I  at 
length,  by  patient  assiduity,  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing the  knowledge  which  I  so  much  desired. 


16  MEMOIR    OF 

During  these  interviews  I  found  her  more  and 
more  impressed  with  a  sense  of  sin  ;  and  discover- 
ed also  that  she  was  fast  treading  again  her  former 
mistaken  course  of  selfish  desire  for  mercy,  merely 
that  she  might  he  happy  ;  seeking  only  deliverance 
from  her  sorrows,  and  praying,  under  the  impres- 
sion that,  for  so  doing,  she  ought  to  be  regarded  of 
God.  I  endeavored  to  show  her  that  there  was 
but  one  way  in  which  she  could  become  a  child  of 
God ;  that  a  mere  desire  of  happiness  for  herself, 
and  laying  claim  to  the  favor  of  God  because  of  her 
frequent  prayers,  was  not  what  he  required :  but 
that  she  must  come  in  all  her  guilt,  and  wretched- 
ness, and  ruin,  looking  to  the  blood  and  spirit  of 
Christ  for  cleansing  and  for  life  ;  and  at  the  foot  of 
the  cross  make  a  full  and  cheerful  surrender  of  her 
heart  and  all  she  had  to  the  Savior,  to  be  his — con- 
secrated to  his  service  and  glory  for  ever.    * 

Her  religious  exercises  soon  assumed  a  new 
character.  She  saw  that  all  was  wrong  within. 
Sin  appeared  to  her  exceeding  sinful.  She  abased 
herself  before  God,  and  cried  with  the  Psalmist, 
Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God,  and  reneiv  a  right 
spirit  within  me.  Then  her  prayer  was  heard,  and 
graciously  answered.  By  degrees  light  came,  and 
peace  and  joy  in  believing. 

She  now  knew  what  it  was  to  believe  in  Christ, 
to  rest  upon  his  covenant  promises.  Now  she  saw 
and  acknowledged  that  God  was  right  in  refusing 


iiawaii  iionniE.  17 

to  liear  her  prayers,  because  she  regarded  not  his 
glory.  She  saw  that  she  had  been  unwilling  to 
give  up  all  for  Christ ;  that  she  had  possessed  a 
proud  and  rebellious  spirit,  having  no  fellowship 
with  a  plan  of  salvation  which  plucked  away  every 
merit  from  herself,  and  bound  all  the  laurels  fresh 
and  flourishing  upon  the  Redeemer's  brow.  Now 
she  rejoiced  in  God  her  Savior,  and  fully  and  freely 
ascribed  to  him  all  the  glory  of  her  deliverance. 
Her  own  account  of  this  great  change  is  deeply 
interesting. 

"  When  about  to  sink  in  despair,  the  Lord  in 
infinite  mercy  heard  my  cry,  and  brought  relief. 
Then  I  could  truly  say,  c  I  love  the  Lord,  because 
he  hath  heard  my  voice  and  my  supplications*  Be- 
cause he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto  me,  therefore 
will  I  call  upon  him  as  long  as  I  live.  The  sor- 
rows of  death  compassed  me,  and  the  pains  of  hell 
gat  hold  upon  me  :  I  found  trouble  and  sorrow. 
Then  called  I  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord;  O  Lord, 
I  beseech  thee,  deliver  my  soul.  Gracious  is  the 
Lord,  and  righteous;  yea,  our  God  is  merciful.  The 
Lord  preserveth  the  simple.  I  was  brought  low 
and  he  helped  me.' 

"  At  times  before,  I  entertained  flattering  hopes 
that  I  had  passed  from  death  unto  life,  but  not  till 
then,  was  I  willing  to  give  up  all  for  Christ,  and  ac- 
cept of  salvation  on  the  terms  of  the  Gospel. 


18  MEMOIR    OF 

"  How  much  did  I  now  mourn  the  loss  of  sanc- 
tuary privileges,  and  the  privilege  of  reading.  I 
considered  them  the  greatest  I  could  enjoy ;  but  the 
Lord  was  my  effectual  Teacher. 

"  After  I  had  experienced  this  happy  change, 
which  filled  me  with  that  peace  which  c  passeth  all 
understanding/  I  was  led  to  wonder — to  love  and 
praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness  in  my  happy  de- 
liverance. I  beheld  and  admired  the  perfections 
of  God  in  every  thing  around  me  ;  in  the  works  ot 
creation  and  the  ways  of  providence.  O  the  won- 
ders of  redeeming  love  !  How  astonishing  t  Sin- 
ners  may  be  reconciled  to  God,  and,  through  a 
Savior's  merits,  have  hope  in  his  mercy ! 

"  I  now  look  upon  my  many  afflictions  as  among 
the  means  appointed  by  infinite  wisdom  and  good- 
ness to  bring  me  into  possession  of  that  '  exceeding 
weight  of  glory'  which  the  Lord  has  prepared  for 
his  people  ;  and  though  I  have  hitherto  been  pre- 
vented, through  fear  and  shame,  from  making 
known  the  wonderful  goodness  of  God  to  me,  I 
now  bless  the  Lord  who  hath  opened  my  mouth  to 
show  forth  his  praise." 

This  peace  of  mind  was,  at  intervals,  interrupted 
a  little,  for  some  time  afterwards,  by  fears  and 
doubts,  arising  from  the  very  thing  which  gave 
others  the  strongest  confidence  in  her  piety — a  very 
tender  conscience — a  quick  and  delicate  susceptibili- 


IIANNAH    HOBBIE.  19 

ty,  respecting  even  the  appearance  of  evil.  This 
sometimes  presented  her  own  heart  to  her  view  in 
such  a  light  as  threw  a  shade  for  a  moment  over  the 
usual  brightness  of  her  hope  ;  but,  under  all  this,  it 
was  manifest  to  others  that  she  was  rapidly  grow- 
ing: in  crace. 

From  this  time  (nearly  four  years  from  the  first 
appearance  of  her  decided  convictions  of  sin)  a 
new  era  in  her  life  commenced.  She  saw  that  it 
was  her  mistaken  views  of  the  divine  plan  of  show- 
ing mercy  to  sinners  which  had  caused  her  feet  to 
stumble,  and  kept  her  so  long  in  darkness.  Now 
she  was  afraid  of  being  left  to  her  own  understand- 
ing in  any  thing.  She  dared  not  trust  her  deceitful 
heart  any  more,  for  it  had  too  often  betrayed  her 
already.  With  entire  distrust  of  her  own  compe- 
tency to  direct  her  way,  she  felt  that  in  all  things 
she  needed  the  guidance  of  that  u  wisdom  which 
cometh  from  above.,,  From  the  wilderness  in  which 
she  had  wandered  so  long,  and  where  she  had 
found  the  way  so  dreary,  she  "came  up  leaning 
upon  her  beloved.,,  She  earnestly  desired  to  be 
taught  wholly — in  every  thing — of  God;  and  he 
fulfilled  to  her  the  promise,  M  They  that  wait  upon 
the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength  :  they  shall 
mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ;  they  shall  run, 
and  not  be  weary ;  and  they  shall  walk,  and  not 
faint."  Though  her  outward  man  was  perishing 
her  inward  man  was  renewed  day  by  day. 


20  MEMOIR    OF 

I  cannot  pass  on  without  looking  back  from  this 
point,  to  gather  up  two  or  three  striking  illustra- 
tions of  divine  truth,  afforded  by  the  history  of 
Hannah's  conversion. 

In  external  strictness  of  moral  deportment  there  is 
nothing  in  the  view  of  the  true  penitent  which  can 
palliate  or  excuse  opposition  of  heart  to  the  truth. 
How  then  can  it  be  otherwise  than  lightly  esteem- 
ed of  God  %  This  amiable  female,  though  faithful 
in  the  discharge  of  the  social  and  relative  duties  of 
life,  found  that  one  thing  was  lacking.  She  saw  that 
she  had  ?iever  loved  God — that  her  heart  was  enmity 
against  him — and  she  loathed  and  abhorred  herself 
in  dust  and  ashes,  as  altogether  vile. 

We  see  that  a  humble,  broken  heart — a  heart  re- 
ally distressed  because  of  the  evil  of  sin,  of  its  odi- 
ous character,  as  opposed  to  God's  holy,  and  just, 
and  good  law,  God  will  never  despise ;  while  such 
as  have  no  desire  to  be  holy,  to  be  pure  as  God  is 
pure,  he  will  not  regard.  We  see  this  weeping 
sufferer  at  times  in  deep  distress  of  soul  for  four 
years  before  she  came  to  the  Savior  in  all  her  sins 
for  healing  and  salvation.  She  found  no  rest,  be- 
cause she  saw  not  the  dreadful  character  of  sin, 
and  consequently  was  not  driven  wholly  to  Christ, 
renouncing  sin  and  herself,  and  giving  all  to  his 
service  and  glory.  But  when  she  saw  that  sin  was 
Tier  crime  ;  that  she  stood  in  open  and  desperate  re- 
bellion against  God,  so  great,  so  excellent,  so  mer- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  21 

ciful,  that  he  ought  to  be  loved,  and  obeyed,  and 
chosen  above  all ;  then,  filled  with  grief  and  self- 
abasement,  she  came  and  cast  herself,  weeping  over 
past  transgressions,  at  the  Savior's  feet,  like  the 
woman  which  was  a  sinner,  and  teas  forgiven. 

Watchmen  of  Israel,  let  us  heed  the  admoni- 
tion to  be  faithful  to  the  souls  committed  to  our  care. 
For  a  long  season  Hannah  was  in  darkness,  because 
she  had  none  to  teach  her  what  she  must  do  to  be 
saved.  We  may  find,  if  we  search  our  congrega- 
tions with  diligent  attention,  many  who  conceal 
their  feelings.  When  the  real  state  of  her  mind 
was  elicited,  and  the  way  of  salvation  pointed  out 
clearly  in  simplicity,  then  she  saw  her  duty — and 
took  up  her  cross  and  followed  Jesus.  We  must 
at  the  fire-side,  as  well  as  in  the  public  assembly, 
preach,  as  did  the  Apostles,  the  Gospel  of  the  king- 
dom ;  and  endeavor  to  ascertain  from  themselves 
individually,  who  among  our  people  accept  of  the 
terms  of  salvation — who  among  them  are  resisting 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Thus  shall  we  find  those,  who, 
but  for  this  paternal  solicitude,  might  succeed  in 
quenching  the  Spirit.  How  many  has  God  saved 
through  such  fidelity  as  this  !  Let  us  lk  watch  for 
souls  as  they  that  must  give  account.''' 


MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  II. 


I  love  to  sit  down  by  the  bed-side  of  a  dying  be- 
liever, when  the  process  of  removal  from  the  world 
is  slow,  and  the  approaches  of  death  gradual,  but 
steady.  I  love  to  watch  the  developements  of 
christian  character — the  manner  in  which  God  il- 
lustrates the  import  of  his  covenant  engagements, 
and  mark  the  excellency  of  religion.  There,  more 
than  under  any  other  circumstances,  have  I  seen  it 
displayed  in  all  its  purity  of  principle,  its  eleva- 
tion of  purpose,  its  loveliness  of  character,  its 
brightness  of  hope,  and  its  strength  of  consolation. 
There  the  mind  has  time  and  opportunity  to  think, 
and  to  search  out  the  foundations  of  its  confidence. 

I  retrace  with  fond  remembrance,  and  often  with 
deep  emotion,  the  scenes  which  I  witnessed  during 
the  painful  and  protracted  sickness  of  this  beloved* 
but  now  departed  friend  ;  the  clear  and  edifying 
light  in  which  truth  has  often  been  presented  to  my 
mind,  by  the  impressive  simplicity  with  which  she 
would  tell  of  the  dealings  of  God  with  her  soul, 
and  recount  her  views,  and  trials,  and  comforts  ; 
and  above  all,  I  love  to  look  back  upon  the  humble, 
and  patient,  and  child-like  spirit  with  which,  dur- 
ing years  of  bodily  suffering,  often  intensely  severe, 
she  kissed  the  rod,  and  rejoiced  in  him  who,  she  was 


HANNAH    UMBBIE.  23 

enabled  to  see,  had   wisely  and  kindly  appointed  it. 

In  my  frequent  visits  to  her  at  this  period,  I 
found  her  bodily  sufferings,  in  general,  great ;  but 
her  mind,  for  the  most  part,  sweetly  and  firmly 
stayed  on  Christ.  It  was  manifest  throughout,  that 
the  promise  which  secures  good  to  them  that  trust  in 
God,  as  the  result  of  all  the  allotments  of  his  pro- 
vidence, was,  in  her  case,  remarkably  fulfilled. 
Under  all  her  severe  pains,  in  her  greatest  debili- 
ty (which  at  this  time  was  excessive)  she  was  al- 
ways patient,  always  resigned  to  her  Master's  will, 
always  trusting  every  thing  to  his  hand.  She  firm- 
ly believed  all  the  trials  she  endured  to  be,  in  her 
ca.se,  necessary  ;  that  they  were  all  intended  for  her 
good  ;  and  her  uniform  choice  was,  that  God  should 
dispose  of  her  as  seemed  best  in  his  sight. 

For  two  years  she  had  not  been  able  to  sit  up, 
at  any  one  time,  more  than  ten  or  fifteen  minutes. 
Repeated  attacks  of  severe  pain  had  so  racked  her 
constitution,  that,  through  weakness  of  her  ner- 
vous system,  at  times  she  could  scarcely  bear  the 
softest  voice  in  her  room.  I  have  passed  to  her  sick 
chamber  through  doors  with  every  latch  muffled, 
and,  with  all  this  precaution,  lifted  in  the  most  gen- 
tle manner  ;  while  the  family  would  steal  away 
from  place  to  place,  in  their  household  occupa- 
tions, with  a  step  as  noiseless  as  the  falling  of  a 
leaf;  and  yet  I  have  found  her  happy  in  her  Savior's 
love.    When  these  seasons  of  extreme  prostration 


24  MEMOIR    OF 

passed  away,  it  seemed  as  if  she  could  not  be  suf- 
ficiently thankful. 

As  I  was  one  day  sitting  at  her  bed-side,  when 
she  enjoyed  rather  more  than  her  usual  strength, 
and  seemed  anxious  to  improve  the  opportunity  of 
christian  intercourse,  I  felt  desirous  to  ascertain  her 
views  of  God's  dealings  with  her  more  fully  than 
I  had  ever  before  done. 

"  Hannah,"  said  I,  "  you  have  been  long  and 
greatly  afflicted.  You  have  been  shut  out  from  the 
world  in  the  bloom  of  life,  deprived  of  its  enjoy- 
ments, and  for  years  visited  with  severe  suffering  : 
is  it  all  right  V 

She  replied,  in  a  voice  so  feeble,  and  tremulous, 
and  sweet,  that  its  very  tones  seemed  to  plead  for 
sympathy  with  her  sorrows,  "  Yes  ;  it  is  all  right. 
The  Lord  has  done  it ;  why  should  I  complain  ? 
My  sufferings  have  been  great ;  but  Jesus  suffered 
more  for  me.  My  lot  is  not  hard  ;  I  deserve  it  all, 
I  have  often  wondered  at  the  Lord's  goodness  in 
preserving  me  from  death,  while  unprepared  to 
meet  it.  These  afflictions  do  me  good ;  and  are  c  not 
worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory f  that  I  trust 
will  follow.  I  am  in  the  Lord's  hands,  and  I  feel 
entirely  submissive." 

"When  I  asked  her  what  her  greatest  desire  with 
respect  to  her  sufferings  had  been,  she  said, 

11  It  has  been  my  prayer  from  the  first,  continu- 
ally, that  it  might  not  be  in  vain  that  I  was  afflicted ; 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  25 

that  God  would  sanctify  his  dealings  with  me  to 
ray  soul,  and  cause  them  to  bring  me  to  himself." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  what  do  you  think  is  the  result]" 

M  I  can  sincerely  say,  that ■  it  is  good  for  me  that  I 
have  bee?i  afflicted  ;'  in  this  I  cannot  be  mistaken  : 
I  do  humbly  trust  that  God  has  glorified  himself 
in  causing  my  afflictions  to  work  for  my  eternal 
good.  It  is  a  great  privilege  to  say  so  ;  but  I  think 
I  can  truly  say  it." 

Anxious  to  know  her  whole  heart  in  this  matter, 
I  said,  "  But  when  you  see  so  many  brought 
from  darkness  to  light  in  firm  health  and  with  few- 
er sorrows,  do  you  not  sometimes  feel  as  if  God 
had  been  needlessly  severe  ?" 

<c  O  sir,"  said  she,  while  feeling  about  her  pillow 
for  her  handkerchief  to  wipe  away  a  tear  that  start- 
ed from  her  eye  and  lay  upon  her  cheek,  M  you 
know  not  my  heart.  God  is  clear  in  all.  I  was 
very  obstinate  ;  I  wanted  every  thing  my  own  way. 
God  could  not  move  ?ne,  as  others  have  been  moved, 
by  kindness.  His  mercies  I  slighted,  his  entrea- 
ties I  disregarded,  and  his  threatening^  did  not  af- 
feet  me.  It  appears  clear  to  me  now,  that  he  had 
no  other  way  to  bring  me  to  himself  but  to  do  just 
as  he  has  done;  and  I  bless  him  now,  and  hope  to 
praise  him  forever  for  it." 

I  looked  at  her  while  uttering  this  language  of 
meek  submission  ;  and  a  heavenly  smile  was  mel- 
lowing and  softening  the  usually  sweet  expression 

H.  Hobbie.  3 


26  MEMOIR    OF 

of  her  countenance.  She  turned  her  eye  full  upon 
me,  beaming  with  the  calm  assurance  of  hope,  and 
said,  "  My  dear  Pastor,  I  am  a  favored  being  /" 
When  the  starting  tear  had  been  wiped  away,  and 
the  melting  scene  had  gone  by,  I  prayed  with  her, 
and  departed.  "  I  came  here,"  said  I,  as  I  left  the 
door  of  the  dwelling,  "  to  impart  instruction  and 
comfort  a  mourner,  but  I  feel  it  a  privilege  to  sit  at 
her  feet  and  learn." 

In  a  letter  to  her  aunt  at  Bedford,  dated  April 
14,  1827,  she  says  : 

,c  I  still  languish  on  my  sick  bed;  but  it  is  all 
right ;  I  '  own  the  sentence  just.'  My  deprivations 
are  many  ;  but  my  mercies  are  many  more.  I  can- 
not go  to  the  house  of  God,  but  I  thank  him  that  I 
can  hear  the  preached  Gospel  at  home.  Last  Sab- 
bath I  enjoyed  this  privilege.  Like  water  to  the 
thirsty,  or  meat  to  him  that  is  hungry,  so  was  the 
word  of  life  to  me.  The  text  was  in  the  117th 
Psalm,  *  O  praise  the  Lord,  all  ye  nations,  praise 
him  all  ye  people ;  for  his  merciful  kindness  is 
great  towards  us,  and  the  truth  of  the  Lord  endur- 
eth  for  ever/  Surely  his  merciful  kindness  is  great 
towards .  me  ;  and  because  his  truth  endureth  for 
ever,  therefore  I  will  put  my  trust  in  him  and  not 
be  afraid. 

rt  How  astonishing  it  is  that  many  hear  from  the 
lips  of  the  faithful  preacher  their  awful  condition 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  21 

while  unreconciled  to  God,  apparently  with  no  con- 
cern. Though  the  Savior  died  to  redeem  them 
from  eternal  death,  they  regard  it  not.  What  a 
manifestation  of  the  awful  hardness  of  the  human 
heart  is  this  !  Can  any  thing  but  mighty  grace  sub- 
due it  ?  Indifference  to  religion  prevails  in  this 
place,  and  I  sometimes  fear  lest  heavy  and  de- 
served judgments  may  come  upon  us  ;  but  the  Lord 
is  infinite  in  goodness  and  plenteous  in  mercy; 
I  sometimes  therefore  hope  that,  as  he  is  reviving 
his  work  in  other  places,  we  too  may  behold  his 
glory  in  the  salvation  of  sinners. 

"  Spring  has  again  returned  with  all  its  loveli- 
ness. How  great  and  glorious  is  that  God,  at  whose 
word  the  seasons  perform  their  successive  rounds ! 
his  glory  shines  in  the  firmament,  and  his  good- 
ness fills  the  earth  :  the  hills  and  the  valleys  rejoice 
and  sing — the  fields  and  forests  praise  him. 

1  All  nature  seems  at  once  combined 
1  In  songs  of  wonder,  love  and  praise.' 

But  in  the  plan  of  salvation  God's  glory  shines 
brighter  still ;  here  he  demands  our  highest  praise. 
There  is  nothing  in  creation  for  which  God  has 
done  so  much  as  for  man.  As  we  are  the  peculiar 
objects  of  his  favor,  let  it  be  our  delight  to  serve 
him  while  we  remain  sojourners  here,  that  we  may 
reign  with  him  in  heaven.' ' 


28  MEMOIR    OP 

In  a  letter  to  another  aunt,  four  days  later,  she 
says  : 

"  It  is  now  about  four  years  that  I  have  been 
deprived  of  the  blessing  of  health  :  I  have  passed 
through  many  trying  scenes,  I  have  had  cause  to 
weep,  and  I  have  had  cause  to  rejoice  and  be  glad. 
Had  any  one  told  me  that  I  should  thus  have 
suffered,  I  should  probably  have  sunk  under  the 
thought ;  or,  on  the  other  hand,  had  I  been  told  of 
the  benefit  I  should  derive  from  my  afflictions,  and 
of  the  happiness  which  I  now  possess,  I  should  have 
been  ready  to  exclaim,  impossible  !  But  the  Lord 
himself  has  done  it ;  his  righteous  arm  inflicted  the 
stroke,  and  in  mercy  and  compassion  he  has  made 
it  a  blessing  to  my  soul.  Yes,  my  dear  aunt,  if  I 
am  not  greatly  deceived,  I  have  reason  to  believe 
my  present  sufferings  will  be  my  eternal  gain.  As 
adversity  has  been  your  lot,  I  have  sympathized 
with  you. 

"  How  different  the  lots  assigned  to  man  !  While 
some  have  every  enjoyment  of  life,  others  suffer 
greatly,  as  we  do.  But  if  we  have  an  interest  in 
Christ ;  if  it  be  our  greatest  delight  to  do  the  will 
of  our  heavenly  Father,  as  I  hope  and  trust  it  is, 
I  sometimes  think  it  is  a  matter  of  little  consequence 
in  what  condition  of  life  we  are  placed.  Health  is 
indeed  most  desirable,  and  the  things  of  this  life  are 
a  blessing ;  but  Agur  saw  that  fullness  in  these  things 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  20 

was  unfriendly  to  a  spirit  of  entire  dependence  on 
God ;  and,  lest  he  should  deny  him,  he  prayed  that 
he  might  not  have  riches.  For  my  part,  whatever 
of  this  world's  good  I  enjoy,  I  would  receive  as  a 
blessing  and  not  as  a  portion  ;  and  because  all  be- 
neath the  sun  is  fading  and  transitory,  I  look  for- 
ward with  joy  to  an  inheritance  which  is  incorrup- 
tible, undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away. 

*'  It  is  painful  to  me  to  be  separated  from  those 
friends  whom  I  hold  dear;  but  the  joyful  period  will 
soon  arrive  when  the  friends  of  Christ  will  meet  at 
the  right  hand  of  God,  where  pains  and  parting  will 
be  no  more.  There  I  hope  to  meet  my  dear  aunt, 
never  more  to  endure  the  trial  of  a  separation." 

Another  letter,  written  about  the  same  time,  was 
addressed  to  a  cousin,  who  was  still  a  thoughtless 
girl,  though  admonished  by  disease  to  prepare  for 
a  dying  hour. 

"  Northeast,  April  20,  1827. 
"  Dear  Cousin, — I  should  not  be  excusable  were 
I  to  neglect  this  favorable  opportunity  of  writing  to 
you.  But  O  that  I  could  address  you  as  one  that 
felt  the  importance  of  that  religion  which  enables 
me,  and  all  who  feel  its  renovating  and  sustaining 
power,  to  be  happy,  and  contented,  even  in  sick- 
ness. I  have  not  heard  from  you  in  a  long  time,  but 
from  the  knowledge  I  have  of  your  complaint,  I  sup- 
pose that  you  are  still  suffering.  Have  you  felt  the 
3* 


SO  MEMOIR    OF 

need  of  that  solace  which  arises  only  from  a  sense 
of  the  love  and  favor  of  God  ]  If  not,  I  sincerely 
pity  you.  Yes  ;  I  have,  by  painful  experience,  learnt 
to  pity  all  those  who  are  living  without  God  and 
without  hope  in  the  world.  I  know  not  what  could 
please  me  more  than  to  hear  that  my  dear  Eliza- 
beth had  renounced  the  world  and  all  its  vanities, 
and  made  choice  of  that  good  part  which  can  never 
be  taken  away.  Should  I  attempt  to  tell  you  the 
happiness  of  a  soul  that  loves  God,  I  could  not  do 
it.  I  well  remember,  when  I  was  yet  a  stranger  to 
God,  and  was  often  entreated  by  Christian  friends 
to  forsake  the  ways  of  sin,  they  told  me  of  the  folly 
and  danger  of  my  course,  and  of  the  delights  of  the 
ways  of  wisdom.  I  can  now  say  that  the  half  of 
either  was  not  told  me.  I  never  knew  what  true 
happiness  was  till  I  found  it  in  religion. 

"  Separated  as  we  now  ara,  I  often  ask  myself, 
shall  we  be  separated  beyond  the  grave  %  Were  I 
assured  that  we  should  meet  in  heaven,  I  should 
feel  much  more  reconciled  to  see  you  no  more  be- 
low, as  I  probably  never  shall.  Good  and  evil  are 
set  before  you ;  O  that  you  would  choose,  and  be  a 
follower  of  that  which  is  good  ! 

"I  should  be  highly  gratified  to  "have  you  write ; 
for  to  receive  letters  from  my  distant  friends  is  next 
to  the  pleasure  of  seeing  them. 

"  Your  affectionate  cousin, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  31 


CHAPTER   III. 


Miss  Hobbie  was  a  plain  unlettered  female, 
trained  to  habits  of  industry  in  a  farmer's  family, 
and  enjoying  limited  privileges  for  the  improve- 
ment of  her  mind.  In  this  respect  she  was  most 
emphatically  self-made  :  she  was  fond  of  reading, 
and  embraced  every  opportunity  at  her  command 
to  gain  instruction. 

Her  journal  was  commenced  on  the  24th  of  Au- 
gust, 1S27,  and  exhibits  the  exercises  of  her  mind 
until  within  about  seven  weeks  of  her  death,  a  pe- 
riod of  nearly  three  and  a  half  years.  Here  the 
true  christian  appears  portrayed  in  a  most  amiable 
and  edifying  light.  O  that  all  who  read  it  may  im- 
bibe its  spirit. 

It  was  written,  and  also  her  letters,  as  she  re- 
clined on  her  bed,  too  weak  to  sit  by  a  table,  hav- 
ing a  book  before  her  for  a  writing-desk,  and  her 
ink  standing  at  her  bedside.  Under  such  circum- 
stances few  would  have  felt  themselves  able  to 
write  at  all ;  few,  very  few  would  have  persevered 
as  she  did.  The  trembling  and  faint  characters  in 
which  many  parts  of  this  journal  are  delineated,  in- 
dicate the  pain  and  weakness  under  which  it  was 
frequently  continued.  She  felt  the  object  to  be 
great — her  own  advancement  in  the  divine  life;  and 


32  MEMOIR   OP 

faithfully  pursued  the  plan  of  recording  her  exer- 
cises as  the  best  method  of  ascertaining  her  spiri- 
tual as  well  as  mental  improvement.  To  a  mind 
disciplined,  like  hers,  to  self-examination,  it  ap- 
peared the  most  eligible  method  of  furthering  her 
great  object,  that  of  being  holy.  In  order  to  know 
her  progress  in  the  christian  life,  she  felt  that  some 
permanency  must  be  given  to  her  passing  impres- 
sions. From  several  records  it  would  appear  that 
she  was  in  the  habit  of  frequently  reviewing  her 
journal,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  her  growth 
in  grace ;  and  her  manner  and  design  in  giving  it 
into  my  hands,  just  before  her  death,  which  will  be 
hereafter  noticed,  make  it  evident  that  she  had  not 
the  most  distant  idea  of  its  being  published. 

This  journal,  which  appears  to  me  so  like  a  rich 
vein  of  gold  throughout  that  I  scarcely  know  what 
to  omit,  commences  as  follows  :  . 

w  August  24,  1827.  In  taking  a  review  of  the 
last  eighteen  months  of  my  life,  which  I  have  en- 
deavored to  devote  to  the  service  of  God,  I  find 
much  cause  to  mourn  my  misimprovement  of  time, 
and  to  regret  that  I  have  made  so  little  progress  in 
the  divine  life.  Having  been  much  impressed  of 
late  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  so  improv- 
ing the  short  season  allotted  me  on  earth,  that  I  may 
render  a  good  account  at  last,  I  am  induced  to 
adopt  this  measure  for  the  improvement  of  my 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  33 

mind  and  for  my  growth  in  grace,  believing  it  to  be 
a  very  effectual  method  for  keeping  alive  a  flame 
of  heavenly  devotion  in  my  heart,  and  increasing 
love  to  God,  as  the  great  source  of  christian  ex- 
cellence. 

M  And  now,  O  Lord,  I  would  make  an  entire  sur- 
render of  myself  to  thee  ;  and,  through  the  merits 
of  Lhy  dear  Son,  hope  to  find  acceptance  with  thee. 
May  thy  Spirit  guide  me  into  all  necessary  truth ; 
save  me  from  all  error ;  influence  me  to  receive 
the  truth  in  the  love  of  it ;  and  transform  me  more 
and  more  into  a  likeness  to  thyself.,, 

"  August  25.  Reason  and  revelation  both  teach 
me  that  I  have  an  immortal  soul,  which,  after  leav- 
ing this  present  abode  of  flesh,  must  enter  a  state 
of  inexpressible  happiness  in  heaven,  or  sink  into 
the  depths  of  endless  wo  :  and  as  the  present  is 
the  only  time  for  securing  the  favor  of  God  and  an 
inheritance  in  heaven,  it  becomes  me  to  examine 
myself,  and  know  whether  I  have  been  actually 
born  again  ;  whether  a  right  spirit  is  renewed  with- 
in me.  Have  I  so  repented  of  sin,  that  my  heart  is 
really  set  against  it  ]  Does  the  love  of  God  appear 
to  me  to  be  the  first,  greatest,  and  best  of  all  ob- 
jects ?  O  Lord,  thou  knowest  that  my  greatest  de- 
sire is  to  know  and  do  thy  will ;  wilt  thou  show  me, 
if  I  am  indeed  thine  ]  Manifest  thyself  unto  me,  as 
thou  dost  not  unto  the  world,  and  make  me  such  as 
thou  wilt  delight  to  own  and  bless/ ' 


34  MEMOIR    OP 

M  August  26.  The  returning  Sabbath  reminds 
me  of  the  privilege  I  once  enjoyed  of  going  to  the 
house  of  God  and  hearing  the  Gospel's  joyful  sound. 
But  alas  !  I  have  long  been  deprived  of  the  inesti- 
mable blessing.  I  nevertheless  rejoice  that  God, 
whose  presence  makes  glad  the  hearts  of  his  chil- 
dren worshiping  in  the  sanctuary,  likewise  conde- 
scends to  visit  the  humble  and  contrite  while  lan- 
guishing on  a  bed  of  sickness  at  home.  Be  pleased, 
Heavenly  Father,  to  favor  me  with  thy  gracious 
presence,  and  make  this  day  a  blessing  to  my  soul. 
My  Sabbaths  on  earth  will  soon  end ;  then  may  I 
be  prepared  to  enter  upon  that  Sabbath  of  rest 
which  ends — never.  There  I  may  worship  Thee, 
without  the  weaknesses  and  infirmities  of  flesh  to 
interpose.,, 

"  Aug.  28.  As  the  heavens  are  high  above  the 
earth,  so  great  is  thy  goodness  unto  me,  O  Lord, from 
day  to  day.  But  alas  !  how  ungrateful !  What  poor 
returns  do  I  make  for  the  mercies  innumerable  that 
I  enjoy  !  How  often  am  I  contented  with  the  form 
of  godliness,  without  feeling  its  enlivening  and  in- 
vigorating power !  With  what  indifference  do  I 
read  the  word  of  God !  O  Lord,  awaken  me  from 
carelessness,  stupidity,  and  unbelief.  Thou  know- 
est  my  wants  and  barrenness ;  how  feeble  my  gra- 
ces, how  cold  my  love,  how  weak  my  faith,  how 
lukewarm  my  zeal,  how  negligent  my  fear,  and 
how  imperfect  all.    O  strengthen  me  with  might 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  35 

in  the  inner  man ;  fashion  my  soul  after  thine  own 
blessed  image  ;  and  daily,  out  of  thy  fullness,  give 
me  to  partake  of  the  abundance  of  grace  :  give  me 
clearer  views  of  the  riches  of  grace,  that  my  unbe- 
lief may  be  confounded,  and  deeper  discoveries  of 
my  own  wretchedness  produced.  Let  my  pride  be 
abased ;  and  O,  may  I  thankfully  embrace  thy  free 
salvation,  and  be  content  to  be  saved,  from  first  to 
last,  as  a  sinner." 

See  how  soon  this  prayer  was  answered.  The 
next  day  she  thus  expresses  herself : 

"  Aug.  29.  To-day  I  feel  religion  to  be  indeed 
the  one  thing  needful ;  and  I  bless  the  Lord  for  the 
hope  that  I  have  a  share  in  that  good  part  which 
shall  not  be  taken  away.  Glorious  hope  !  With 
this  assurance  I  am  contented  and  happy  under  the 
deprivation  of  health,  one  of  the  greatest  blessings 
of  life.  With  this  assurance  I  am  encouraged  to 
f  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith/  and  to  '  run  with  pa- 
tience the  race  that  is  set  before  me.'  " 

"  Aug.  31.  Yesterday  I  felt  sorely  afflicted  in 
body,  and  somewhat  depressed  in  mind,  so  that  the 
day  passed  away  not  comfortably.  But  towards 
evening  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  grant  me  near- 
ness to  the  throne  of  grace.  I  was  enabled  to  re- 
turn him  my  unfeigned  thanks  for  his  multiplied 
mercies  ;  to  ask  for  the  pardon  of  sin  ;  and,  through 


36  MEMOIR   OF 

the  Savior's  merits,  to  hope  for  salvation  and  eter- 
nal life.  I  think  I  can  truly  say  that  I  found  joy 
and  peace  in  believing.  The  comforts  of  the  Lord 
delighted  my  soul,  and  I  was  enabled  to  commend 
myself  to  the  care  and  protection  of  the  great 
Guardian  of  my  sleeping  hours,  and  close  my  eyes, 
unsolicitous  whether  I  should  awake  in  time  or 
eternity.  This  morning  I  awoke,  and  found  my 
thoughts  still  with  God  ;  aspiring  after  more  grace 
and  greater  holiness  ;  anxiously  desiring  to  become 
more  and  more  conformed  to  the  blessed  image  of 
my  Savior.  O  Lord,  wilt  thou  show  me  the  way  of 
life  ]  *  In  thy  presence  is  fullness  of  joy,  and  at 
thy  right  hand  are  pleasures  for  evermore.' 

1  God  is  my  portion  and  my  joy, 

'  His  counsels  are  my  light ; 
1  He  gives  me  sweet  advice  by  day, 

'  And  gentle  hints  by  night.5 " 

"  September  1.  I  have  to  record  the  abundant 
goodness  of  God  to  me  during  the  past  week. 
Richly  favored  with  the  gifts  of  Providence,  and,  I 
trust,  with  the  better  blessings  of  grace,  I  have 
been  called  upon,  by  love  and  gratitude,  to  devote 
myself  wholly  to  the  service  of  God.  I  think  I 
have  found  that  true  happiness  consists  not  in  the 
enjoyment  of  health  or  the  good  things  of  this  life. 
I  thank  thee,  O  Lord,  that  thou  hast  taught  my 
thoughts  and  affections  to   ascend,   and  fix  upon 


HANNAH    HOBBIE,  37 

those  joys  that  never  die.  Thou  art  the  fountain  of 
life  ;  the  only  source  of  true  happiness  :  unto  thee 
would  I  look  for  all  that  I  need." 

y<  September  2.  I  hail  the  return  of  another  Sab- 
bath ;  but,  sensible  of  my  own  utter  insufficiency, 
would  look  to  God  for  a  fresh  supply  of  grace^ 
through  which  alone  I  can  rightly  improve  it.  O 
Lord,  may  thy  blessing  make  this  day  more  profit- 
able to  me  than  any  one  I  have  spent  before.  I 
deplore  my  imperfections  ;  may  my  afflictions  be 
the  means  of  removing  them;  and  as  the  Captain 
of  salvation  was  made  perfect  through  sufferings, 
so.  may  I  be  fitted  by  them  for  thy  blessed  will.  He 
was  without  sin ;  I  have  many  sins  to  be  forgiven 
and  to  be  forsaken. " 

u  September  4.  Through  the  mercy  and  goodness 
of  the  Lord  to  me  the  past  night,  I  have  been  blest 
with  refreshing  sleep,  and  brought  to  behold  the 
light  of  another  morning.  For  two  days  I  have 
had  humbling  views  of  myself  as  a  sinner.  In  re- 
flecting on  the  past,  1  have  much  cause  for  humili- 
ation, because  of  the  spirit  of  pride  and  selfishness 
which  has  hitherto  been  so  prevalent  within  me.  O 
when  shall  I  be  willing  to  render  unto  God  all  his 
due  !  He  alone  is  worthy  of  all  praise,  honor,  and 
glory.  O  when  shall  I  be  willing  to  live  only  to 
the  honor  and  glory  of  that  Savior  who  has  called 
me  from  darkness  to  light !  O  that  I  might  possess 
the  Savior's  meek    and   lowly   spirit !     O   Lord, 

H.  Hobbio,  4 


28  Memoir  op 

poor  and  needy  I  would  come,  and  through  thy 
strength  resolve  to  devote  the  remainder  of  my  life 
to  thee.  Of  myself  I  can  do  nothing.  O  for  grace 
to  help  me  in  this  time  of  need.  I  would  present 
my  soul  and  body  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and  accept- 
able to  thee,  which  is  my  reasonable  sei'vicc.  Ac- 
cept thou  the  offering,  and  make  my  heart  thy  con- 
stant abode.  Make  me  willing  to  sit  humbly  at  the 
feet  of  Jesus,  and  submit  myself  altogether,  impli- 
citly to  his  teaching.' ' 

"  September  5.  Like  a  stranger  and  pilgrirn 
below,  I  wander  in  search  of  purer  and  more  sub- 
stantial joys  than  this  world  ean  give,  I  look  for  a 
city  which  hath  foundations,  whose  Builder  and 
Maker  is  God.  I  feel  and  am  assured  that  my 
days  on  earth  are  few :  I  am,  therefore,  more  re- 
conciled to  the  trials  of  life,  and  I  count  all  these 
sufferings  but  light,  when  compared  with  the  glory 
that  shall  be  revealed  in  me  hereafter.' ' 

"  September  9.  Another  week  is  added  to  my 
mortal  existence,  which  brings  me  nearer  to  eter- 
nity. I  would  ask  myself  whether  I  am  nearer  to 
God  and  heaven.  I  think  I  can  say  that  I  do  more 
ardently  hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness ;  and 
.  feeling  the  inadequacy  of  earthly  good  to  satisfy 
my  soul,  without  the  continual  enjoyment  of  the 
love  and  presence  of  God,  I  desire  to  live  near 
to  him,  and  to-  be  more  conformed  to  his*  blesseJ 
innate." 


UANNA1I    H015UIE.  ~9 

She  then  mentions  the  calls  of  many  of  her 
friends  who  were  not  pious;  regrets  that  their  at- 
tention could  not  be  drawn  to  the  subjects  which 
interested  her  more  deeply  than  their  worldly  con- 
versation, and  complains  of  the  interruption,  as  de- 
priving her  of  the  profit  of  recording  her  exercises 
of  mind,  and  interfering  materially  with  the  privi- 
leges of  meditation  and  prayer,  as  she  was  reduced 
at  this  time  to  a  state  of  great  bodily  weakness- 
But  having  been  favored  in  the  meantime  with  a 
few  opportunities  of  intercourse  with  the  children 
of  God,  she  proceeds  to  show  the  difference,  in  her 
view,  between  them. 

u  I  find  much  pleasure  in  the  society  of  christian 
friends,  particularly  those  whose  conversation  shows 
most  of  a  spiritual  mind.  Indeed,  I  feel  a  pecu- 
liar attachment  to  the  friends  of  Christ.  But  on 
the  contrary,  I  seldom  find  satisfaction  in  the  visits 
of  those  whose  conversation  is  about  the  things  of 
this  world.  O  how  do  I  pity  those  who  know  not 
God,  nor  consider  the  worth  of  their  souls.  I  do  sin- 
cerely pity  them  ;  and  my  constant  prayer  to  God 
is,  that  they  may  repent  before  it  be  for  ever  too 
late.  O  that  all  my  friends  were  tne  friends  of  God  !" 

She  closes  the  entry  in  her  journal  this  day  by 
a  renewed  dedication  of  herself  to  God,  which  was 
not  only  her  frequent,  but  her  tccekly  practice. 


40  MEMOIR   OF 

In  reference  to  a  revival  of  religion  with  which 
we  were  at  this  time  favored,  and  which  exerted  its 
blessed  influence  among  the  different  denomina- 
tions in  the  vicinity,  she  thus  expresses  herself: 

11  September  21.  How  does  it  rejoice  my  heart 
to  hear  of  the  conversion  of  sinners !  The  glad 
news  that  God  has  commenced  a  glorious  work 
here,  has  filled  me  with  ecstacies  of  joy,  awakened 
my  drowsy  powers,  and  made  me  more  earnest  at 
the  throne  of  grace  in  behalf  of  sinners.  I  rejoice 
in  the  hope  that  the  Lord  will  bless  us  abundantly 
with  the  refreshing  showers  of  his  grace.  I  have 
long  mourned  for  the  desolations  of  Zion,  and  la- 
mented the  carelessness  and  stupidity  which  have 
so  long  prevailed.  O  Lord,  wilt  thou  arise  and 
have  mercy  upon  Zion,  and  visit  us  greatly  with 
thy  salvation.' ' 

In  this  work  of  divine  grace,  (though  at  this 
time  she  was  very  feeble,)  Hannah  took  hold  ot 
God's  covenant  as  with  the  grasp  of  death,  and  con- 
tinued to  plead  for  sinners,' especially  for  her  father 
and  family,  with  a  faith  which  could  not  be  denied. 
As  often  as  I  visited  her  during  its  progress,  she 
seemed  to  forget  herself  in  the  deep  interest  she 
felt  for  others.  She  would  inquire  very  anxiously 
after  the  subjects  of  the  work,  and  rejoice  greatly, 
as  one  after  another  gave  evidence  of  having  re 


HANNAH    H0EBIE.  4i 

I 

ceived  Christ.  The  world  offered  her  its  promises  in 
vain  ;  nothing  could  draw  her  away  from  heavenly 
things  and  the  progress  of  Christ's  kingdom.  She 
felt  the  wickedness  of  her  own  heart  so  sensibly, 
and  so  dreaded  its  palsying  influence,  that  she  was 
constrained  most  diligently  to  watch  and  pray 
against  it.  This  is  no  anomaly  :  a  discovery  of  the 
sin  and  deceitfulness  of  the  heart,  in  connection 
with  unshaken  trust  in  God,  is  one  of  the  best 
evidences  of  growth  in  grace.  It  was  so  with  her ; 
for  when  she  complained  to  me  the  most  of  this, 
she  still  said,  "  In  the  smiles  of  God  my  happiness 
is  complete  ;  his  froicn  alone  is  darkness.  God  is 
my  defence  against  every  foe,  whom  shall  I  fear  ! 
He  is  my  hope  and  my  salvation.' ' 

She  again  said,  M  At  times  I  have  great  freedom 
and  delight  in  prayer  and  devotion.  I  have  felt 
pity  for  the  miserable  state  of  sinners  around  me, 
and  have  entreated  the  Lord  to  draw  near  unto  us  ; 
especially  that  a  parent,  who  is  yet  at  a  distance 
from  God,  and  brothers,  and  sisters,  and  neighbors, 
may  partake  of  the  blessing  of  his  salvation.  The 
Lord  is  rich  in  mercy ;  O  that  I  could  live  more 
upon  him  by  faith,  and  derive  more  of  my  happi- 
ness from  things  above,  and  less  from  things  below !" 

Under  date  of  October  10,  she  thus  writes  s 

M  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  lib 
4* 


42  MEMOIR    OF 

benefits  to  me  1  What  am  I,  that  God,  whom  the 
heaven  of  heavens  cannot  contain,  should  conde- 
scend to  dwell  in  my  heart  ?  I  have  enjoyed  much 
of  his  presence  for  three  days  past.  His  presence 
is  life,  light,  joy,  and  peace. 

"A  meeting  was  appointed  here  yesterday,  in  the 
enjoyment  of  which  I  anticipated  much  happiness. 
It  being  very  stormy,  no  one  came  except  our  pas- 
tor and  a  christian  friend.  I  was  somewhat  disap- 
pointed; but  the  afternoon  passed  away  very  plea- 
santly. The  revival  was  the  principal  subject  of 
conversation.  The  work  is  progressing.  My  prayer 
to  God  is,  that  it  may  go  on  without  interruption, 
till  all  shall  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Our  friends  closed  their  visit 
with  us  by  prayer.  I  was  most  affectionately  re- 
membered. I  desire  to  be  thankful  for  the  many 
tokens  of  affection  and  regard  which  I  receive  from 
my  christian  friends.  The  visit  was  profitable  to 
me  ;  and  I  am  this  day  encouraged  to  persevere  in 
the  ways  of  the  Lord.  May  I  so  run  that  I  may 
obtain.'* 

"  Oct.  13.  This  day  I  am  twenty-one  years  old. 
This  calls  for  self-examination.  In  taking  a  review 
of  the  past  year,  how  great  the  catalogue  of  mer- 
cies !  The  Lord  has  seen  fit  to  continue  my  bodily 
afflictions  ;  I  have  mourned  the  loss  of  many  valu- 
able privileges  ;  but  my  comforts  have  been  neither 
few  nor  small.    Through  the  summer  my  unfaith- 


HANNAH    UOBBIE.  43 

fulness  to  God  and  neglect  of  duty  often  caused 
darkness  of  mind.  I  was  often  constrained  to  say 
within  myself, 

1  Why  is  my  heart  so  far  from  thee, 
4  My  God,  my  chief  delight  V 

But  I  hope  I  do  record  it  with  humble  gratitude, 
that  for  two  months  past  my  affections  have  been 
more  given  to  God  and  religion.  Prayer,  which 
was  formerly  a  task,  has  become  a  privilege  in 
which  I  delight.  I  have  felt  more  freedom  in  sriv- 
ing  myself  to  God,  and  have  had  increased  desires 
after  holiness.  Yes,  I  long  to  be  holy,  as  I  long  to 
be  happy. 

M  I  would  this  day  solemnly  renew  my  covenant 
with  God,  and  through  the  strength  of  Jesus  resolve, 
henceforth,  to  be  more  diligent  in  duty — more  in- 
stant in  prayer.  Sensible  I  am  that  my  chief  hap- 
piness depends  upon  this,  for  prayer  is  the  chris- 
tian's breath.  When  prayer  is  omitted,  farewell 
enjoyment  I  I  would  commit  myself,  my  health,  and 
the  disposal  of  all  that  pertains  to  me  in  future,  into 
the  hands  of  God — to  his  unerring  wisdom.  Do 
thou,  O  Lord,  perfect  that  which  concerneth  me. 
I  sometimes  think,  were  it  not  for  the  possibility  of 
becoming  useful  to  my  fellow-creatures,  I  should 
have  no  desire  to  live.  But  I  would  calmly  wait 
my  Father's  will.  Thy  will,  O  Lord,  be  done.  I 
can  say  this  now — O  that  I  may  be  able  to  say  it  to 


44  MEMOIR    OF 

the  last ! — Heavenly  Father,  whether  it  be  thy  will 
to  restore  me  to  health,  or  that  I  should  still  linger 
upon  my  bed,  may  I  henceforward  be  more  meek 
in  my  disposition ;  more  amiable  in  my  temper ; 
more  devout  in  the  frame  of  my  mind  ;  more  spiri- 
tual in  my  conversation ;  more  zealous  for  thy 
glory ;  more  conformed  to  the  image  of  my  Lord 
and  Master  ;  and  the  life  which  I  live  in  the  flesh, 
may  I  live  by  the  faith  of  thy  dear  Son,  who  loved 
me,  and  gave  himself  for  me." 

"  October  28. 

*  Another  six  days'  work  is  done; 
c  Another  Sabbath  is  begun;' 

and  I  feel  myself  under  renewed  obligation  to  the 
Father  of  mercies  for  his  increase  of  favor  to  me. 
With  very  little  interruption  I  have  enjoyed  the 
light  of  God's  countenance  and  a  sense  of  his  favor 
the  past  week ;  and  this  morning  I  find  myself  hap- 
py in  the  possession  of  that  peace  which  passeth 
understanding.  Others  are  permitted  to-day  to  wor- 
ship and  pay  their  vows  in  the  sanctuary ;  I  am 
compelled  to  spend  my  Sabbath  in  the  retirement 
of  home ;  but  I  would  not  repine ;  gratitude  be- 
comes me  more  than  complaint. 

"  The  Lord  has  indeed  visited  us  with  his  salva- 
tion ;  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  still  working  in  the 
hearts  of  this  people,  and  reconciling  sinners  to 
himself.    I  trust  a  parent,  who  has  long  lived  with- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  ,45 

out  God  and  without  hope  in  the  world,  has  been 
led  to  see  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,  and  has 
resolved  to  come  out  from  the  world  and  join  him- 
self to  the  people  of  God.  A  goodly  number  pre- 
sented themselves  yesterday  and  applied  for  ad- 
mission into  the  church,  and  among  them  were  my 
dear  father  and  my  eldest  sister.  Under  a  sense  of 
duty  I  have  also  presented  my  request.  I  have  fled 
to  Christ,  and  humbly  hope  my  name  has  long 
since  been  recorded  in  the  book  of  life ;  but  I  de- 
sire now  to  unite  myself  to  the  visible  church  of 
God,  that  I  may  do  all  my  Master's  will,  and  enjoy 
the  benefit  of  his  precious  ordinances.  I  long  for 
the  privilege  of  joining  his  people  in  the  Lord's 
supper,  believing  it  will  be  blest  to  my  spiritual 
nourishment  and  growth  in  grace.' ' 

On  the  29th  she  wrote  to  an  aunt  in  Bedford ; 
speaks  of  the  privilege  of  writing  as  the  sweetest 
solace  to  separated  friends  ;  mentions  that  her  phy- 
sician proposed  trying  a  new  remedy;  and  then 
adds  : 

"  I  feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  use  means  for  my 
bodily  health ;  but  the  great  blessing  is  to  enjoy 
health  of  soul.  I  can  indeed  say,  that  I  never  en- 
joyed so  much  peace  and  tranquillity  of  mind  as  for 
two  months  past.  With  little  interruption,  1  have 
enjoyed  a  sweet  sense  of  God's  presence  and  favor, 


46  MEMOIR    OF 

I  think  you  will  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  Lord  is 
visiting  us  with  his  salvation.  Twenty  have  already 
joined  the  church  over  the  mountain,  and  twenty 
or  more  expect  to  unite  with  our  church  next 
Lord's  day.  My  father,  my  sister  Elizabeth,  and 
myself,  are  among  the  number  who  have  applied 
for  admission.  As  soon  as  convenient,  after  the  com- 
munion is  administered  at  the  house  of  God,  I  ex- 
pect the  members  of  the  church  to  meet  here  for 
the  same  purpose ;  and  I  wish  my  dear  aunt  could 
be  with  us,  to  commemorate  a  Savior's  dying  love. 
I  hope  to  be  strengthened  with  spiritual  life,  and 
to  receive  much  benefit  from  this  ordinance. 

"  Four  weeks  ago  last  evening  my  father  attend- 
ed a  meeting  at  Captain  C 's.    Mrs.  C-< was 

very  much  distressed,  and  wept  and  cried  aloud 
for  mercy.  My  father  saw,  and,  for  the  first  time, 
felt,  that  he  too  was  a  sinner.  His  convictions  were 
deep  and  pungent.  On  his  way  home,  a  distance  of 
nearly  a  mile,  he  was  several  times  on  his  knees  in 
the  woods,  begging  for  mercy.  When,  late  at  night, 
he  reached  home,  he  had  found  comfort.  And  now, 
my  dear  aunt,  can  you  not  rejoice  with  me  in  the 
conversion  of  a  parent,  brought  from  darkness  to 
light — from  the  service  of  sin  and  Satan,  to  the  ser- 
vice  of  God  his  Redeemer  ?  I  have  often  felt  thank- 
ful for  a  pious  mother ;  and  now  I  trust  I  have  a 
praying  father.  On  this  pleasing  topic  I  could  long 
dwell,  but  I  must  close.    Tell  our  pious  friends  to 


HANNAH    HOBSfE.  47 

rejoice  with  us,  that  salvation  has  come  to  this  place, 
and  I  trust  to  this  house.    Adieu. 

M  I  am  your  affectionate  niece, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 

In  her  journal,  November  15,  she  thus  speaks 
of  the  anticipated  meeting  of  the  church  at  her  fa- 
ther's house : 

"  A  special  meeting  is  appointed  here  next 
Lord's  day,  when  I  expect  to  confess  Christ  before 
the  world,  and  enter  into  covenant  with  God  and 
his  dear  people.  I  think  I  feed  daily,  by  faith,  on 
the  living  bread;  and  when  partaking  of  the  me- 
morials of  the  Savior's  death,  I  hope  to  be  enabled 
to  exercise  a  stronger  faith  over  those  simple  but 
expressive  emblems.  O  that  my  heart  may  be  drawn 
forth  in  love  and  devotion  to  him  who  gave  him- 
self on  the  cross  for  me.  May  I  be  enabled  to  view 
Christ  in  his  humiliation  and  exaltation ;  view  him 
suffering,  bleeding,  groaning,  dying  y  view  him  ris- 
ing, ascending,  and  reismins:  \  and  at  God's  ri^ht 
hand  living  to  make  intercession  for  his  people- 
Though  I  have  many  times  before  endeavored  to 
give  myself  to  God,  may  I  then  be  enabled  to  give 
myself  more  unreservedly  to  him,  taking  the  Lord 
as  my  Redeemer  and  all ;  and  may  he  be  my  Friend 
and  my  portion  for  ever." 

So  clear  was  Hannah's  view  of  her  duty,  and  *J 


48  MEMOIR   OF 

ardently  did  she  desire  to  do  all  her  Savior*s  will, 
that  we  unanimously  and  joyfully  consented  to 
meet  at  her  father's  house,  that  she  might  have  the 
opportunity  to  obey  an  affecting,  a  dying  command 
of  Christ.  This  meeting  was  appointed  for  the 
1 8th  of  November ;  and  after  the  public  worship 
of  the  sanctuary,  I  set  out  with  my  companion  for 
the  place  of  her  abode,  distant  about  five  miles. 

I  had  often  passed  over  the  same  ground  before, 
but  the  present  occasion  called  up  associations  new 
and  interesting.  I  was  going  to  carry  the  children's 
bread  to  one  not  able  to  receive  it  in  the  house  of 
God  ;  a  worn  and  weary  pilgrim  ;  fainting,  even  in 
the  morning  of  life,  under  the  trials  of  the  joui  ney> 
and  lons;inor  for  the  hour  when  she  should  finish  her 
course,  and  get  safely  home,  to  rest  eternally  in 
heaven. 

For  the  first  mile  the  road  led  through  a  narrow 
Valley.  On  the  right  were  high  hills,  divided  to 
their  summits  into  separate  enclosures,  stretching 
away  far  to  the  south,  all  brown  with  the  effects  of 
autumnal  frosts.  On  the  left  was  a  range  of  lofty 
cliffs,  covered  with  oak  and  chesnut  wherever  a 
tree  could  strike  its  roots,  now  pressing  hard  upon 
the  road-side,  and  now  receding  a  little  distance. 
At  the  southern  extremity  of  this  narrow  pass,  on 
a  slight  elevation,  the  church  where  we  had  just 
been  worshiping  the  God  of  our  fathers  lifted  its 
white  spire.    The  road  here  wound  around  the  ter* 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  49 

Blitiation  of  this  range  of  cliffs  towards  the  north- 
east, leaving  on  the  right  an  extensive  tract  of 
meadows  level  as  the  surface  of  a  lake,  and  then 
led  onward  through  another  valley,  till,  by  easy  ac- 
clivities, we  ascended  the  amphitheatre  of  hills  which 
curved  beautifully  around  on  either  hand  and  be- 
fore us.  They  reminded  me  of  that  covenant  which 
stands  more  firm  than  the  everlasting  hills  ;  and  I 
felt  that  all  was  safe  that  my  beloved  friend  had 
committed  to  her  Heavenly  Father's  keeping.  The 
giant  oaks  that  stood  there,  stripped  of  their  foliage, 
stretched  their  arms  on  high,  as  if  exulting  in  the 
better  preparation  of  their  nakedness  to  brave  un- 
harmed the  wintry  storm  and  bid  defiance  to  the 
fury  of  the  tempest.  They  seemed  an  emblem  of 
the  christian — established  on  the  Rock  of  Ages — 
stripped  ofself— looking  up  with  confidence  for  grace 
to  sustain  the  storms  of  life,  and  saying,  None  of 
these  things  move  me,"  A  few  scattered  leaves, 
tinged  by  the  frost  with  varied  hues,  but  still  cling- 
ing to  their  branches,  hung  out  their  signals  of  de- 
cay around  us  ;  and  I  said,  as  I  thought  of  the  sick  . 
bed  to  which  we  were  hastening,  <c  \VTe  all  do  fade 
as  a  leaf."  The  sun  was  now  and  then  obscured 
by  passing  clouds,  and  the  chill  winds  of  autumn 
were  sweeping  by  us  in  short  and  fitful  gusts.  So 
varied,  so  changing,  so  uncertain  are  all  earthly 
hopes ;  so  unstable  the  foundations  of  earthly  joy. 
From  such  surrounding  objects,  and  with  such 

H.  Hubble.  5 


50  MEMOIR  OF 

reflections,  I  reached  the  place  of  our  destination* 
and  before  me  lay  in  all  its  loveliness  the  fading 
flower,  about  to  be  cut  down  in  the  very  spring-time 
of  life.  She  gave  me  a  smile  of  welcome  as  I  took 
her  hand :  there  was*a  calm  serenity  upon  her  counte- 
nance ;  the  light  of  hope  and  the  firm  resolve  of  faith 
were  mingled  sweetly  in  her  eye  ;  while  every  fea- 
ture spoke  of  solemn  joy,  and  told  of  peace  within. 

I  stood  near  her  bed-side  ;  the  bread  and  wine 
were  placed  on  a  table  before  me.  After  a  short 
discourse,  I  proposed  to  her  the  questions  usual  on 
such  occasions,  and  to  all  she  gave  her  free  and  full 
assent.  The  people  of  God  were  seated  around  me, 
and  I  broke  the  bread  for  her  and  for  them ;  we 
took  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  called  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord.  It  was  to  me,  and  I  believe  to  others, 
a  very  precious  season.  It  was  as  if  the  times  of 
primitive  simplicity  had  returned,  when  the  apos- 
tles, and  those  whom  they  had  begotten  through  the 
Gospel,  assembled  to  commemorate  the  Savior's 
dying  love. 

In  her  journal,  under  date  of  Nov.  19,  she  thus 
expresses  herself  in  reference  to  this  affecting  oc- 
casion : 

M  I  very  much  enjoyed  the  services  of  yesterday. 
The  exercises  were  solemn,  interesting,  and  delight- 
ful to  me.  Our  pastor's  text  was  Deut.  32  :  9-12. 
God's  jjortion  is  his  people.    Though  all  by  right  is 


HANNAH    HOBBIB.  51 

his,  yet  how  much  is  taken  from  him,  and  claimed 
by  other  masters,  and  given  to  other  uses.  His 
people  only  are  strictly  and  peculiary  his  portion 
and  his  care.  He  finds  them  in  "a  waste,  howling 
wilderness,,,  and  leads  them,  as  a  shepherd  leads 
his  lost  sheep,  to  the  fold.  He  keeps  them  "as  the 
apple  of  his  eye.,,  As  the  "eagle  stirreth  up  hur 
nest"  when  she  thinks  it  time  for  her  young  to 
leave  it,  so  the  Lord  breaks  up  the  places  of 
worldly  rest,  where  his  people  sometimes  slumber 
wickedly,  to  show  them  that  they  must  not  fix  their 
affections  here.  As  the  eagle  "fluttereth  over  her 
\oung,"  to  teach  them  the  use  of  their  wings;  and 
"bears  them  on  her  wings"  on  high,  and  then  lets 
them  fall  suddenly,  to  show  them  the  necessity  of 
effort;  but  shoots  down  under  them,  if  she  sees  they 
are  yet  too  weak  to  fly,  and  takes  them  upon  her 
own  wings  again ;  so  the  Lord  tries  the  strength  of 
his  people's  faith,  but  will  not  let  them  fall  utterly. 
When  they  first  engage  in  his  service,  they  are  more 
led  by  love  than  faith.  The  Lord  leaves  them  often 
to  try  them,  and  to  increase  their  faith;  but  is  sure 
to  help  them  in  due  season.  This  was  the  train  of 
thought.    How  sweet  and  refreshing  ! 

"  It  was  a  precious  privilege  to  commune  with 
the  people  of  God  at  his  table.  O  may  I  have  grace 
to  fulfill  the  solemn  vows  which  are  upon  me  to  be 
wholly  his,  and  to  walk  worthy  of  my  profession.  I 
did  find  the  refreshing  effects  of  this  spiritual  pro- 


52  MEMOIR   OF 

vision,  though  not  so  much  at  the  time  as  since. 
I  have  felt  his  banner  over  me  to  be  love.  I  hope 
it  is  the  beginning  of  better  days.  I  thirik  I  never 
before  felt  such  freedom  in  giving  myself  to  God. 
I  sincerely  desire  to  devote  myself  wholly  to  his 
service;  to  glorify  him  in  my  soul  and  body,  which 
are  his. 

"A  short  time  since,  as  I  was  reading  and  medi- 
tating on  the  Lord's  supper,  I  was  suddenly  con- 
victed of  my  sin  in  so  long  neglecting  the  Savior's 
dying  command,  and  making  no  public  profession  of 
my  choice  of  God's  service ;  but  after  a  season  cf 
grief  and  sorrow  I  found  forgiveness.  I  have  nov 
most  willingly  and  cheerfully  obeyed;  and  will  not 
he,  who  received  gifts  for  men,  send  some  perfct 
good  upon  his  willing  servant]  I  pray  that  I  may 
honor  the  cause  which  I  profess  to  love.  May  I 
never  bring  shame  or  reproach  upon  it. 

"  SELF-DEDICATION. 
"  I  here,  O  God,  by  a  free  and  deliberate  act, 
devote  myself  to  thy  service,  and  entirely  submit  to 
thy  requirements.  I  renounce  the  glories  and  vani- 
ties of  the  world,  and  choose  thee  as  my  supreme 
felicity,  and  my  everlasting  portion.  This  is  my 
sincere  determination;  a  determination  which,  by 
thy  grace,  I  never  will  retract.  O  Thou,  by 
whose  power  alone  I  shall  be  able  to  stand,  put 
thy  fear  in  my  heart,  that  I  may  never  depart  from 


HANNAH  H0BBIE.  53 

thee.  Let  not  the  world,  with  all  its  flatteries; 
•death  and  hell,  with  all  their  terrors,  entice  or  in- 
fluence me  to  violate  this  sacred  vow.  O  let  me 
never  live  to  abandon  thee,  nor  draw  the  impious 
breath  that  would  deny  thee !  And  now  let  surround- 
ing angels  witness  for  me,  that  I  solemnly  devote 
all  the  powers  and  faculties  of  my  soul  and  this  poor 
body  to  thy  service  ;  and  when  I  presumptuously 
employ  any  of  the  advantages  thou  hast  given  me 
to  thy  dishonor,  let  them  testify  against  me,  and 
let  my  own  words  condemn  me. 

"Hannah  Hobbie." 


CHAPTER  IV. 


We  are  now  to  view  this  humble,  but  distin- 
guished disciple,  as  sustaining  new  and  solemn  re- 
lations to  God  her  Savior,  to  the  church,  and  to  the 
world.  She  had  voluntarily  given  herself  to  God, 
and,  bought  with  such  a  "price"  as  the  precious 
blood  of  Christ,  she  knew  and  felt  that  she  was 
not  her  own.  She  was  sensible  that  she  was  con- 
tinued in  the  world  for  some  wise  purpose,  and 
evidently  that  she  might  be  useful  to  others.  In 
the  revival  at  that  time  Hannah  was  an  efficient 
5* 


54  MEMOIR   OP 

helper,  notwithstanding  she  was  extremely  feeble, 
and  confined  to  her  chamber,  and,  for  the  most  part,* 
entirely  to  her  bed.  If  a  christian  brother  or  sis- 
ter visited  her,  she  would  urge  them  to  their  duty 
by  every  motive  which  she  could  command.  If  a 
careless  sinner  was  there,  an  earnest  and  affection- 
ate entreaty  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come  was  al- 
most always  a  part  of  the  interview.  Many  a  letter 
did  she  write  to  those  to  whom  she  could  have  no 
personal  access,  especially  the  absent  female  com- 
panions of  her  youth.  The  things  that  she  did,  her 
work  of  faith  and  labor  of  love,  will  be  found  in- 
terwoven with  her  whole  history. 

In  her  journal,  December  10,  she  thus  mourns 
and  prays : 

"  Once  more  I  have  to  seek  after  an  absent  God* 

'  ?Tis  just,  I  own,  if  thou  depart 

1  From  so  insensible  a  heart ; 

cNor  would  I  shun  the  sad  decree, 

*  To  spend  my  days  in  grief  for  thee. 

1  'Tis  not  the  painful  I  deplore, 

i  But  sin's  benumbing,  pois'nous  power. 

'  Illusive  charms  impede  my  way, 

1  And  tempt  my  faithless  heart  astray.' 

v< 1  acknowledge  my  unfaithfulness  to  God.  With- 
out the  Spirit  of  God  I  find  myself  altogether  faith- 
less to  my  solemn  engagements.    My  strength  is  in 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  55 

(he  Lord,  and  from  him  cometh  all  my  help.  If  I 
trust  my  own  heart,  it  is  treacherous — deceitful 
above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked.  The 
world  has  often  disappointed  my  most  confident 
expectations  ;  but  thou,  O  God,  hast  never  deceived 
me.  Thou  art  faithful  and  true.  Thy  word  is  es- 
tablished, and  abideth  for  ever.  Suffer  me,  who  am 
but  dust,  to  plead  with  thee.  Show  me  the  light  of 
thy  countenance  ;  for  without  thee  I  cannot  live ; 
my  spirit  dies  within  me.  Bless  me  with  the  assu- 
rance that  thou  art  mine,  and  let  me  once  more 
taste  the  comforts  of  thy  presence.  Renew  the 
expressions  of  thy  goodness  to  a  poor,  ungrate- 
ful sinner.  Deal  not  with  me  in  severity,  for 
shouldst  thou  mark  iniquity,  I  could  not  stand  be- 
fore thee.,, 

Miss  Hobbie  had  entered  into  covenant  with 
God,  sensible  that  he  demanded  her  efforts  to  build 
up  his  kingdom ;  that,  in  the  infinitely  wise  econo- 
my which  he  had  organized  to  accomplish  his  de- 
signs of  mercy,  and  spread  the  influence  of  truth 
through  the  world,  he  could  not  dispense  with  the 
instrumentality  of  his  people.  However  little  her 
influence  appeared  to  herself,  she  considered  it  due 
to  God's  cause;  and,  little  as  her  strength  was,  it 
was  wholly'his.  In  order  to  do  her  duty  as  a  sol- 
dier of  the  cross,  she  felt  that  she  needed  the  joy  of 
God's  salvation  in  her  soul,  to  animate  her,  inspire 


56  MEMOIR   OF 

her  with  courage,  and  fire  her  with  zeal.  I  never 
found  her  in  spiritual  darkness  but  I  found  her  a 
sincere  and  bitter  mourner.  The  feelings  express- 
ed in  the  preceding  extract  are  those  which  seem 
ever  to  have  existed  when  God's  face  did  not  shins 
upon  her.  Her  first  business  then,  was  to  "seek 
after  an  absent  God ;"  nor  did  she  fail  to  find  him. 
Hear  what  she  says  five  days  after  this  : 

i 
"  December  15.  Why  should  I  leave  the  foun- 
tain of  living  waters,  for  broken  cisterns  which  can 
hold  no  water.  The  Lord  has  rebuked  my  folly, 
and  put  a  new  song  of  praise  into  my  mouth. 
r  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  riot  all  his 
benefits ;  who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities ;  who 
healeth  all  thy  diseases  ;  who  redeemeth  thy  life 
from  destruction ;  who  crowneth  thee  with  loving- 
kindness  and  tender  mercies,  so  that  thy  youth  is 
renewed  like  the  eagle's/  Surely  I  choose  not  to 
forsake  thee  now.  All  my  happiness  centres  in 
thee  ;  I  have  no  hope  but  in  thee,  and  no  substan- 
tial joy  but  what  flows  from  thee.  My  greatest  fear' 
is  that  of  losing  thee,  and  my  greatest  care  that  of 
securing  thy  favor. 

Prone  to  wander,  Lord,  I  feel  it ; 

1  Prone  to  leave  the  God  I  love ; 

1  Here's  my  heart,  O  take  and  seal  it, 

1  Seal  it  from  thy  courts  above/  n 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  57 

To  a  cousin,  Frances  M ,  who  had  recently 

been  awakened  to  a  sense  of  her  guilt  and  danger 
as  a  sinner,  she  thus  wrote  on  the  ISth  of  this 
month : 

"  The  deep  interest  I  feel  in  the  welfare  of  your 
soul  is  my  best  apology  for  writing.  Since  I  heard 
of  your  anxiety  I  have  been  very  desirous  to  see 
you.  1  have  not  ceased  to  pray  for  you,  that  the 
Lord  would  carry  on  and  perfect  the  work  which, 
I  hope,  is  begun  in  your  heart.  My  prayer  to  God 
is,  that  you  may  have  no  rest  until  you  find  it  on 
the  Rock  of  Ages. 

11  If  you  have  been  led  to  see  yourself  a  sinner, 
and  now  stand  condemned  by  the*  law,  oppressed 
with  a  sense  of  guilt,  let  me  direct  you  to  Jesus 
Christ,  the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  man — 
the  '  Lamb  of  God  who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world/  My  dear  Frances,  are  you  willing  to  hum- 
ble yourself  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  accept  of 
pardon  and  salvation  from  the  Savior  who  calls  you 
to  come  to  him,  and  stands  with  open  arms  to  re- 
ceive you ?  He  is  willing,  and  he  is  able.  You 
will  need  the  comforts  of  religion  in  health  and  in 
sickness  ;  and  did  you  know  the  happiness  of  a 
soul  at  peace  with  God,  you  would  not  rest  until 
your  eternal  interest  is  secure.  I  would  here  tell 
you  of  the  joys  which  'flow  from  the  love  of  God, 


58  MEMOIR   OF 

but  have  not  room,  and  must  close,  with  my  best 
wishes  for  your  present  and  eternal  welfare. 
M  Very  affectionately  yours, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 

In  a  note,  she  sends  her  love  to  her  cousins 

C and  E ,  and  is  very  pressing  upon  the 

individual  to  whom  she  was  writing,  to  urge  them 
to  be  in  earnest  about  their  souls'  salvation.  There 
are  also  annexed,  with  a  pencil,  those  beautiful 
words  :  "  Lord,  I  have  loved  the  habitation  of  thy 
house — the  place  where  thine  honor  dwelleth.,, 

Her  journal  continues  : 

"  December .24.  How  much  reason  I  have  to 
thank  God  for  restoring  to  me  the  privilege  of  read- 
ing. I  have  just  been  reading,  with  great  delight* 
the  memoirs  of  a  pious  female,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  sixteen.  Though  young,  she  was  the  subject  of 
renewing  grace,  which  enabled  her  to  endure,  with- 
out a  murmur  or  complaint,  a  painful  and  trying 
sickness  of  three  weeks,,  which  terminated  her  life. 
During  her  illness,  her  great  anxiety  seemed  to  be 
for  the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 
She  was  enabled  to  smile  upon  death.  O  may  my 
last  end  be  like  hers  ! 

,?  Ever  since  I  have  arrived  to  years  of  under- 
standing, I  have  found  great  delight  in  reading  the 
memoirs  of  departed  saints ;  and  have  desired   o 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  59 

imitate  their  bright  example.  I  feel  now  that  God's 
grace  alone  can  enable  me  to  do  it.  That  the  Lord 
has  renewed  my  hard  heart  I  cannot  doubt,  after 
the  evidences  I  have  received  of  his  covenant  fa- 
vor. Q  that  he  would  loose  my  tongue  and  enlarge 
my  heart  to  praise  him  for  what  he  has  done  for 
my  soul ;  then  would  I  shout  the  praises  of  my  Re- 
deemer while  I  can  speak.  But  now,  how  slow  are 
my  returns  of  praise  !  How  backward  to  acknow- 
ledge his  goodness  !  If  I  cannot  speak  the  praises 
of  my  Redeemer  on  the  earth,  how  can  I  hope  to 
join  the  happy  choir  above,  in  singing  praises  to 
God  and  the  Lamb  for  ever  and  ever  1" 

"  January  1,  182S.  Another  year  is  gone,  and 
I  still  linger  and  wander,  a  stranger  and  a  pilgrim 
here,  far  from  my  native  home. 

4  Fly  swifter  round,  ye  wheels  of  time, 

1  And  bring  the  welcome  day, 
'  When  I  shall  reach  that  peaceful  clime : 

1  Must  I  yet  longer  slay  f 

M  I  am  tired  of  these  vanities,  and  the  world 
grows  more  and  more  insipid  and  uninteresting.  It 
has  lost  its  power  to  charm  me.  With  cold  indif- 
ference I  view  these  transitory  glories,  inspired 
with  nobler  prospects  and  vaster  expectations  !  By 
faith,  I  see  the  promised  land ;  and  every  day  brings 
me  nearer  to  the  possession  of  my  heavenly  inhe 
ritance.    There  shall  I  see  my  God,  not  through  a 


60  memoir  op 

glass  darkly,  but  face  to  face.  Then  shall  I  be  *  s&* 
tisfied,  when  I  awake  with  thy  likeness/  I  look  for- 
ward with  joy  to  that  happy  period  when  my  earth* 
ly  pilgrimage  will  end ;  when  '  this  corruptible  shall 
put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  shall  put  on 
immortality :' when  this  trying  warfare  shall  be 
finished,  and  when  the  last  conflict  with  my  spiritual 
enemies  shall  be  over.  Then  shall  I  cry,  through 
my  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  Victory,  Vic- 
tory !" 

<c  January  6.  I  have  for  some  time  desired  to 
experience  some  change  :  that  the  Lord  would 
either  restore  me  to  health,  to  activity  and  useful* 
ness  in  life,  or  that  he  would  prepare  me  for  him* 
self,  and  take  me  to  a  better  world ;  for.  what  am 
I,  in  my  present  condition,  but  a  poor  worthless 
creature  %  But  I  would,  gracious  Father,  that  thou 
shouldst  glorify  thyself  in  me.  Should  it  be  thy 
will  that  I  should  still  linger  upon  this  bed  for 
weeks,  months,  or  years,  may  I  say  at  all  times,  and 
under  all  circumstances,  Thy  will,  O  Lord,  be  donti 
and  not  mine.  Comfort  .me  by  thy  word  and  pro- 
mises, and  support  me  by  thy  grace,  in  this  season 
of  languor  and  trial.  May  thy  grace  be  sufficient 
for  me,  and  thy  strength  be  made  perfect  in  my 
weakness.  Though  weak  in  body,  make  me  strong 
in  the  Lord  and  in  the  power  of  his  might.  Should 
this  sickness  prove  my  last,  O  that  my  reason  may 
be  continued,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  glorify  God 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  61 

in  my  dying  moments.  '  When  my  flesh  and  my 
heart  fail,  be  thou  the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my 
portion  for  ever.'  " 

"  February  3.  Shall  I  cease  to  record  the  good- 
ness of  Divine  Providence  to  me,  the  least  and  most 
unworthy  of  all  the  servants  of  my  Lord.  His  good- 
ness pursues  me  with  unwearied  course.  Every 
day's  experience  brings  me  some  new  evidence  of 
his  faithfulness.  As  the  week  begins  so  it  ends, 
with  a  series  of  mercies.  And  what  shall  I  render 
for  all  these  unmerited  favors  ]  How  prone  is  my 
ungrateful  heart  to  forget  his  benefits,  or  make  mi- 
serable returns  !  Blessed  Lord,  again  do  I  dedicate 
myself  to  thee.  Though  the  world  entice  me,  yet 
In  thy  strength,  in  the  power  of  thy  might,  I  icill 
7iot  consent.  Though  it  offer  the  choicest  Gfifts,  I  will 
hold  on  my  way.  Nothing  henceforward  do  I  desire 
to  know  but  Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified/' 

,f  February  11.  Still  under  chastisement;  but  in 
every  pain  I  desire  to  recognize  the  hand  of  my 
heavenly  Father.  This  renders  the  affliction  light. 
I  find  the  grace  of  God  sufficient  for  me.  The  Lord 
Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  my  song ;  he  also  shall 
become  my  salvation. 

u  Yesterday  was  to  me  a  most  delightful  day.  I 
was  enabled  to  read  the  word  of  God  with  unusual 
pleasure.  I  found  much  comfort  in  prayer,  and 
could  say  with  the  Psalmist,  '  In  the  multitude  of 

H.  Hubbic.  $ 


63  Memoir  o# 

my  thoughts  within  me,  thy  comforts  delight  my 
soul/ 

*  How  sweet,  a  Sabbath  thus  to  spend, 
1  In  hope  of  one  that  ne'er  shall  end.'  " 

On  the  25th  of  February  she  wrote  to  a  cousin 
whom  she  had  not  seen  since  she  was  a  child,  but 
of  whose  conversion  she  had  just  heard  : 

"  My  dear  Cousin,— As  I  am  denied  the  pleasure 
of  a  personal  interview  with  you,  I  must  have  re- 
course to  a  letter.  It  is  so  long  since  I  saw  you, 
that  I  can  form,  probably*  no  correct  idea  of  your 
personal  appearance ;  but  since  the  glad  news  of 
your  hopeful  conversion,  I  have  felt  how  near  we 
now  are  to  each  other, 

M  I  heard  of  the  death  of  your  little  brother,  and 
sympathized  with  you  in  the  bereavement.  When 
I  last  saw  him,  it  appeared  to  me  that  he  would 
not  stay  long  here.  He  is  gone  !  And  now,  my 
dear  friend,  let  the  number  of  his  days  teach  us 
that  life  is  short,  awaken  us  to  diligence,  and  ani* 
mate  us  in  the  performance  of  every  duty ;  know- 
ing that  we  must  soon  give  up  an  account  of  the 
deeds  done  in  the  body,  and  reap  our  reward. 

"  The  revival  of  religion  has  not  yet  ceased  with 

'  us.     It  is  now  nearly  six    months  since  it  com* 

menced.     Twenty-two   have   been  added   to  our 

church*  and   next    Sabbath  a  number  more  will 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  63 

join.  Additions  have  also  been  made  to  other 
churches.  Meetings  among  us  are  still  frequent 
and  interesting.  My  father  appears  to  be  very  ac- 
tive and  zealous  in  the  cause,  and  spends  much 
time  in  attending  meetings  and  visiting  the  anx- 
ious and  inquiring. 

"  Your  affectionate  cousin, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 

The  following  thoughts  from  her  journal  are 
beautiful  and  impressive  : 

V  March  5.  I  have  now  been  without  medical 
assistance  more  than  a  year.  My  physicians  find 
that  the  natural  powers  of  my  constitution  cannot 
of  themselves  effect  any  improvement  of  my  health, 
and  think  it  advisable  to  enter  upon  a  new  course 
of  treatment,  in  which  they  feel  some  confidence. 
Should  I  be  restored  to  such  a  degree  of  health  as 
would  enable  me  to  associate  with  society,  I  feel 
as  if,  by  the  strength  of  grace,  I  should  exert  myself 
to  the  extent  of  my  ability  in  the  cause  of  my  ever- 
blessed  Redeemer ;  for  his  love*  and  mercy  to- 
wards me  demand  my  icholc  service  and  my  highest 
praise. 

M  My  physicians  give  me  flattering  hopes  of  being 
raised  from  my  sick  bed ;  but  I  dare  not  anticipate 
much  from  such  a  hope,  lest  I  should  be  disappoint- 
ed.   O  that  the  Lord  would  keep  me  from  all  vain 


64 


MEMOIR    OF 


and  unprofitable  desires  after  earthly  joys,  and 
suffer  not  a  diminution  of  my  love  to  him,  who  is 
the  centre  of  all  my  happiness.  While  I  submit  to 
the  direction  of  an  earthly  physician,  I  would  com- 
mend myself  to  the  care  of  the  great  Physician  of 
soul  and  body;  for'hemaketh  sore  and  bindeth 
up :  he  woundeth,  and  his  hands  make  whole.' 
He  will  be  with  me  in  six  troubles,  and  in  seven 
he  will  not  forsake  me." 

In  the  same  delightful  strain  of  heavenly-mind- 
edness  and  close  discrimination  as  to  the  genuine- 
ness of  her  exercises,  she  continues  her  record  : 

"  March  14.  How  cheering  are  the  frames  of 
soul  which  are  given  me  !  I  have  often  inquired, 
why  is  it  thus  with  me  ?  I  can  only  ascribe  it  to 
the  goodness  of  God.  I  know  it  to  be  great  folly 
to  build  on  a  frame  of  soul,  and  that  the  noblest 
attainment  is  to  go  icholly  out  of  myself  and  rest 
only  on  Christ.  If  I  do  otherwise,  I  provoke  him 
to  depart  from  me,  because  I  place  the  effect  of  his 
presence  in  the  room  of  himself.  These  glorious 
manifestations  I  ought  not  to  rest  upon,  but  seek 
them  only  for  refreshment.  I  often  feel  satisfied 
in  the  gift,  when  I  should^  honor  him  that  bestoweth 
it;  then  he  withdraws  his  visits,  and  refuses  to 
come  again  till  I  confess  my  folly.  Hence  it  is  that 
I  feel  so  many  changes ;    sometimes    on  Mount 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  65 

Pisgah,  then  groping  in  the  valley  of  Achor; 
sometimes  walking  in  the  light,  then  without  the 
sun ;  sometimes  permitted  to  come  to  his  throne 
of  grace  with  boldness,  where  he  fills  my  mouth 
with  arguments  then  kept  back  by  a  cloud  around 
it,  that  my  prayer  cannot  pass  through,  and  that  I 
cannot  order  my  speech  by  reason  of  darkness ; 
and  all  this  to  chasten  me  for  my  folly,  and  make 
me  adore  his  sovereignty.  When  he  is  absent,  de- 
spair comes ;  when  present,  spiritual  pride  is  apt 
to  spring  up ;  but  while  he  in  wisdom  goes  and 
co?nes,  it  keeps  my  soul  in  exercise ;  it  prevents  me 
from  sitting  down  in  sinful  security  or  delusion — it 
keeps  every  grace  more  active.  His  coming  keeps 
me  from  despair,  and  his  absence  from  spiritual 
pride.  Yet,  Lord,  I  do  plead  that  thy  presence 
may  cheer  me  while  traveling  through  this  dark 
wilderness  ;  for  if  thy  presence  go  not  up  with  me, 
I  shall  faint  by  the  way.  O  may  thy  Spirit  dwell 
with  me,  and  seal  me  for  salvation  !" 

In  reviewing  the  journal  from  which  these  ex- 
tracts are  taken,  I  have  been  forcibly  reminded  of 
conversations  with  her  which  had  passed  entirely 
from  my  memory.  I  often  find  in  it  traces  of  these 
interviews.  This  accounts  for  that  which  once  I 
was  surprised  at  beyond  measure,  viz.  that  she 
preserved  the  most  clear  and  distinct  recollection 
of  what  I  had  said,  though  months  had  passed 
6* 


66  MEMOIR    OF 

away.  I  find  she  carefully  noted  it  down  at  the 
time  in  her  journal ;  and  as  she  was  in  the  habit  of 
looking  over  that  very  frequently,  to  compare  her 
feelings  and  exercises,  and  ascertain  her  progress 
in  the  divine  life,  the  subjects  of  conversation  at 
these  interviews  came  frequently  before  her  mind; 
and  her  constant  habit  of  gaining  instruction  from 
every  thing  which  could  possibly  give  it,  led  her  to 
treasure  up,  with  peculiar  care,  all  that  she  heard 
in  reference  to  the  concerns  of  her  soul,  and  the 
dealings  of  God  with  her. 

I  have  often  been  deeply  affected  with  the  eager- 
ness with  which  she  sought  light  on  subjects  which 
were  not  very  clear  to  her  mind ;  and  have  as  often 
been  delighted  to  see  the  independence  which  cha- 
racterized her  reception  of  the  truth.  She  would  ask 
questions,  and  state  difficulties,  if  she  really  thought 
they  existed,  until  every  doubt  and  perplexity  was 
removed,  and  her  view  of  the  matter  was  clear  and 
satisfactory.  Sometimes,  when  the  subject  of  in- 
quiry  respected  the  dealing  of  God  with  her  own 
soul,  and  she  was  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  course 
which  he  was  taking  with  her,  I  have  seen  her  lie, 
with  her  full  blue  eye  fixed  upon  me  with  an  earn- 
estness which  I  cannot  describe,  while  I  was  sug- 
gesting what  might  be  the  designs  of  infinite  wis- 
dom in  the  matter ;  and  if  I  succeeded  in  clearing 
away  the  cloud,  she  would  gently  close  her  eyes 
(evidently  in  prayer)  for  a  little  season,  and  then 


IIANNAH    HOBBiE.  67 

with  a  smile  of  satisfaction  would  say,  "  It  must 
be  so." 

One  day  I  learned  from  her  mother,  before  en- 
tering her  chamber,  that  she  suffered  much  in  body, 
and  that  her  mind  was  also  in  darkness  ;  she  feared 
that  God  was  angry  with  her.  When  I  entered  the 
room,  and  she  gave  me  her  hand  as  usual,  it  was 
with  a  sad  countenance ;  she  looked  at  me  with 
such  a  pleading  earnestness,  that  I  was  greatly 
moved.  For  a  moment  I  was  at  a  loss  what  to  say, 
for  I  saw  that  she  was  miserable.  Those  beautiful 
lines  of  Cowper  soon  came  to  my  mind, 

"  Behind  a  frowning  providence, 
"  He  hides  a  smiling  face." 

It  was  all  1  said.  She  fixed  her  full  gaze  upon  mo 
for  a  minute ;  then  gently  turned  away  her  head 
and  covered  her  eyes  with  her  hand.  I  stood  by  her 
for  a  minute  longer ;  the  tears  were  slowly  steal- 
ing between  her  white  fingers  ;  I  knew  she  would 
be  in  prayer  for  a  season,  and  softly  retired  into 
the  room  with  the  family.  The  door  being  open,  I 
could  see,  from  where  I  sat,  the  bed  on  which  she 
lay.  For  some  time  she  remained  still  in  the  same 
position;  and  when  she  moved,  it  was  to  wine  off 
the  tears,  now  almost  dried,  from  her  cheek,  and 
look  up  to  tell  me  that  all  was  right.  I  went  to  her, 
and  heard  her  acknowledge  this,  with  full  confi- 
dence in  the  promises — though  yet,  she  said,  it  was 


68  MEMOIR   or 

trusting  God  in  darkness.  Yet  she  believed  that  God 
was  merciful  in  laying  upon  her  all  these  burdens, 
and  that  they  would  work  together  for  her  good. 

11  Perhaps,"  said  I,  "  you  have  been  rejoicing, 
not  in  God,  but  only  in  the  comforts  which  he  gives 
you  :  if  you  do  this,  he  will  surely  teach  you  that  he 
will  not  give  his  glory  to  any ;  and  when  any  thing 
stands  between  you  and  him,  it  must,  by  some  pro- 
cess, he  removed." 

She  saw  the  difficulty  before  I  left  her,  and  in 
prayer  I  commended  her  to  our  common  Father's 
keeping.  It  was  evidently  in  reference  to  this  oc- 
casion that  the  foregoing  extract  was  penned ;  for 
a  flood  of  light  soon  after  burst  upon  her  soul,  and 
she  rejoiced  in  God  her  Savior. 

Four  days  after  this  she  recorded  some  views  of 
her  afflictions,  which  should  not  be  omitted. 

M  March  IS.  I  have  now  been  confined  almost 
five  years.  It  is  a  long  time.  But  in  this  providence 
I  behold  the  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness  of  God. 
I  know,  I  feel  that  it  is  good  for  me  that  I  have 
been  afflicted.  How  little  did  I  know  of  God,  of 
religion,  of  myself,  before  I  was  brought  to  this 
state  of  trial !  What  mercy  and  grace  have  been 
displayed  in  my  case  !  I  consider  not  that  pain  and 
sickness  come  by  chance,  but  by  the  will  of  God. 
When  disease  came  upon  me,  then  I  saw  that  I  was 
poor,  and  wretched,  and  helpless, — then  I  saw  the 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  69 

vanity  of  all  earthly  things — that  Christ  alone  could 
help  me — that  religion  was  the  one  thing  needful , 
and  that  all  else  is  dross,  in  comparison  with  the 
excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Jesus.  I  believe 
that  this  affliction  was  sent  upon  me  at  first  to  cor- 
net evil,  and  is  now  continued  to  prevent  it.  It 
shows  me  my  sin,  and  I  am  humbled  under  it. 
What  an  evil  and  bitter  thing  must  sin  be,  when  it 
brings,  even  in  this  life,  so  many  pains  and  such 
deep  distress.  O  Lord,  I  would  humble  myself  un- 
der thy  chastising  hand ;  and  when  I  feci  this  ta- 
bernacle shaken,  as  I  daily  do,  may  I  remember 
that  it  must  soon  fall." 

M  April  4.  O  the  importance  of  making  a  wise 
improvement  of  time  !  I  confidently  believe  that 
the  whole  number  of  my  days  will  be  few  ;  and 
this  consideration  leads  me  repeatedly  and  earnest- 
ly to  inquire,  How  ean  I  spend  my  time,  strength, 
end  ability  in  the  way  that  will  be  most  subservient 
to  the  glory  of  my  Heavenly  Father,  and  for  the 
good  of  my  own  soul  ?  I  have  been  able  for  some 
time  to  read  at  least  a  chapter  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment and  one  in  the  New  every  day,  and  a  little  in 
other  religious  books.  This  course  I  intend  to 
pursue  while  I  have  strength ;  but  I  often  regret 
that  I  read  to  so  little  advantage.  What  ean  be  the 
cause  ?  I  attribute  it  to  my  too  ofteu  endeavoring 
to  understand  the  Scriptures  without  divine  assist- 
ance.   I  regret   that  I  make  so  little  proficiency  in 


70 


MEMOIR    OF 


grace  and  knowledge.  In  future,  I  would  look  to 
God  for  his  blessing  and  guidance  in  all  my  re- 
searches after  divine  instruction. 

"  In  my  exercises  of  devotion,  how  the  weakness 
of  flesh  hinders !  how  it  disturbs  my  peace  !  O 
when  shall  I  be  released  from  this  prison,  that  I 
may  serve  God  without  infirmity  and  without  sin  I 
How  short  is  life  !  How  precious  are  souls  !  How 
awful  is  eternity  !  I  feel  for  the  souls  of  others.  I 
feel  the  obligations  I  am  under  to  the  God  of  my 
salvation.  How  much  has  he  done  for  me  !  Now, 
what  shall  I  do  for  him  ]  O  how  shall  I  set  forth 
his  glory,  and  speak  of  his  goodness  towards  the 
children  of  men  ? 

"  Father  of  spirits  !  thou  from  whom  all  light, 
life,  and  strength  proceed  !  may  I  be  an  active  in- 
strument in  the  promotion  of  thy  glory.  O  that  my 
temper  and  conduct  may  exert  a  holy  influence, 
and  be  the  means  of  doing  good,  that  in  my  present 
feeble  state  I  may  not  be  altogether  useless." 

"  April  6.  The  welcome  day  has  again  returned, 
the  day  which  to  me  is  a  day  of  joy,  of  instruction, 
and  of  praise.  While  many  profane  it,  I  desire  to 
spend  it  in  the  service  of  my  Lord  and  Master. 
How  many  pleasing  reflections  occur  to  my  mind ! 
This  day  commemorates  the  triumphant  resurrec- 
tion of  my  blessed  Savior.  It  calls  me  to  hold  com- 
munion with  my  Lord,  and  to  devote  myself  with 
renewed  zeal  to  his  service ;  to  anticipate  an  eter- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  71 

tial  Sabbath  of  rest,  where  I  hope  to  enjoy  the  di- 
vine presence,  and  be  employed  in  celebrating 
divine  praises  for  ever." 

On  the  13th  we  met  again  at  Mr.  Hobbie's,  to 
give  Hannah  an  opportunity  of  joining  with  us  in 
the  Lord's  supper.  I  preached  on  that  occasion  on 
the  subject  of  the  Christian  pilgrimage;  showed 
how  the  path  lay  through  a  waste,  barren  wilder- 
ness ;  that  the  Lord  had  not  only  provided  a  glori- 
ous land  of  rest  for  his  people,  but,  in  this  journey, 
had  provided  many  places  of  refreshment  by  the 
way  ;  such  as  the  Sabbath,  the  word,  the  sanctuary, 
the  mercy-seat,  his  table,  &c.  This  is  all  minutely 
referred  to  in  her  journal  for  the  day,  which  closes 
thus  : 

"  I  thank  God  that  I  have  again  been  favored 
with  an  opportunity  of  waiting  upon  him  in  the  or- 
dinance of  the  Lord's  supper.  It  was  a  pleasant, 
and,  I  think,  a  profitable  season  to  me.  O  that  my 
seasons  of  communion  here  below  may  prepare  me 
for  an  eternal  communion. with  God  in  heaven  !" 

"  April  1G.  Have  had  great  discoveries  of  the 
depravity  of  my  heart  this  day  ;  and,  under  a  sense 
of  it,  am  constrained  to  cry,  '  God,  be  merciful  to 
me  a  sinner  V  If  I  am  not  guilty  of  those  sins 
which  appear  great  in  the  sight  of  men,  yet  I  be- 
V-ail  those  of  which  none  on  earth  can  accuse  me. 


rd  MEMOIR   OP 

I  am  often  led  to  cry  to  God  in  the  language  of 
David,  '  Cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  faults/  O 
for  grace  and  strength  to  crucify  sin  !  O  that  I 
might  walk  in  all  the  statutes  and  ordinances  of  the 
Lord  blameless.'' 

"  May  9.  This  day  have  been  utrried  into  the 
garden.  It  is  now  eight  months  and  eighteen  days 
since  I  was  out  of  the  door.  How  delightful  the 
return  of  spring !  Should  my  strength  permit,  I 
will  go  out  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  more  of  the 
Creator's  power  and  wisdom.  Should  it  be  so,  the 
Lord  grant  that  it  may  lead  me  to  a  more  delight* 
ful  contemplation  of  his  wonderful  works." 

"  May  IS.  In  taking  a  review  of  the  last  three 
months,  I  find  I  have  made  very  little  progress  in 
grace  or  knowledge.  Although  I  have,  at  timesr 
been  favored  with  sensible  exercises  of  grace  and 
elevated  joys,  I  have  experienced  interposing  sea* 
sons  of  darkness,  one  of  which  lasted  nearly  three 
weeks.  Great  weakness  of  body  seemed  an  excuse' 
for  being  less  watchfuL  My  medicine,  also,  tended' 
to  stupify  me.  I  soon  found  myself  at  a  laments* 
ble  distance'fiom  the  Lord  of  life.  I  was  convinc- 
ed of  my  folly,  and  felt  reproved  for  having  almost 
willingly  departed  from  God.  I  had  brought  my- 
self into  a  dreadful  state  of  darkness ;  the  Lord  had 
departed  ;  and  O,  the  anguish  of  my  soul !  I  could 
compare  it  to  nothing  but  the  pains  of  those  who 
are  shut  out  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  tc> 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  73 

dwell  in  the  blackness  of  darkness  for  ever.  But 
though  perplexed,  I  was  not  in  despair.  The  lan- 
guage of  my  heart  was,  *  Turn  me  again,  0  Lord 
God  of  hosts  ;  cause  thy  face  to  shine,  and  I  shall 
be  saved.'  I  have  gradually  been  brought  again  to 
the  enjoyment  of  light  and  comfort.  I  feel  greatly 
humbled  for  my  awful  backslidings,  and  feel  more 
my  dependance  on  God.  The  hiding  of  God's  face 
is  indeed  a  sore  chastisement ;  but  it  teaches  me  to 
trust  him  in  the  dark — to  live  by  faith. 

"  I  resolve  to  make  this  an  era  in  my  life.  I 
have  this  morning  called  to  mind  my  former  vows 
and  promises,  and  have  been  enabled  to  look  to  God 
by  faith,  for  grace  to  influence  me  to  the  continual 
performance  of  them." 


CHAPTER    V. 


The  concluding  paragraph  of  the  last  chapter 
represented  this  devoted  disciple  as  calling  to  re- 
membrance her  vows  and  pledges  to  the  Lord  her 
Redeemer,  and  as  making  this  an  important  era  in 
her  short  but  remarkable  life.  Such  it  really  was. 
To  those  who  saw  her,  she  appeared  from  about 
this  time  to  be  preparing  daily  for  a  purer  and 

H.  Hobble*  7 


74  MEMOIR   OF 

happier  community  than  earth  affords — to  be  ri- 
pening for  heaven.  The  attentive  reader  will  dis- 
cover this  in  her  journal  and  letters. 

About  this  time  a  sister  in  the  church,  long  and 
deservedly  beloved  and  respected,  became,  by  some 
iuscrutable  providence,  subject  to  seasons  of  me- 
lancholy, which  terminated  in  mental  derange- 
ment. She  was  long  afflicted  in  this  distressing 
manner,  and  enlisted  universal  sympathy,  for  she 
was  universally  esteemed.  With  respect  to  this 
dark  dispensation,  Hannah  thus  writes  : 

"  Thus  God  deals  with  her.  Why  is  it  that  she, 
who  for  years  has  given  evidence  of  possessing  the 
love  and  favor  of  God,  is  thus  dealt  with  ]  All  that 
I  can  say  is,  that  I  doubt  not  it  is  for  some  wise  and 
good  purpose.  We  are  short-sighted,  and  therefore 
should  be  humble  and  submissive.  The  ways  of 
Providence  are  often,  to  us,  dark  and  mysterious, 
Yesterday  was  the  Sabbath ;  and,  by  the  request  of 
her  friends,  the  church  met,  at  the  intermission  of 
worship,  to  pray  for  her.  O  that  she  may  yet  be 
blest  with  the  exercise  of  her  reason  ;  that  her  deai 
friends  may  have  the  consolation  of  seeing  her  in 
her  right  mind;  and,  when  called  to  leave  the 
world,  may  she  depart  in  peace  and  triumph.,, 

"  May  23,  1828.  Have  just  received  a  visit  from 
a  female  friend,  one  of  the  companions  of  my  child  • 
hood.    I  have  not  seen  her  before  in  a  long  time , 


HANNAH    H0BB1E.  75 

When  at  the  age  of  eleven  or  twelve,  she  appeared 
to  be  penitent ;  but,  I  think,  has  given  no  decided 
evidence.  While  here,  I  conversed  with  her  upon 
the  important  subject  of  her  soul.  She  admitted 
that  she  knew  nothing  of  the  comforts  of  religion, 
but  seemed  to  realize  its  necessity,  and  the  vanity 
of  all  earthly  enjoyments.  I  endeavored  to  show 
her  the  importance  of  seeking  the  Lord  while  he 
may  be  found.  She  was  much  affected.  I  told  her 
if  it  was  her  desire  to  give  herself  to  the  Lord,  I 
would  gladly  pray  for  her.  She  said  it  was.  O  that 
she  may  be  born  of  God.  I  rejoiced  in  this  opportu- 
nity of  conversing  with  her;  I  trust  it  will  do  good. 
M  How  many  opportunities  of  usefulness  have  I 
lost  heretofore  !  I  might  have  been  the  means,  per- 
haps, of  a  blessing  to  many  souls.  I  often  feel  con- 
demned for  my  silence ;  but,  such  is  my  natural 
timidity,  as  well  as  bodily  infirmity,  that  I  am  often 
deficient  in  duty.  Surprising  as  it  is,  I  often  feel  a 
sinful  reserve  when  conversing  upon  the  all-impor- 
tant subject  of  religion  ;  wThen,  at  the  same  time,  I 
can  speak  freely  upon  other  subjects.  O  that  my 
mind  were  more  impressed  with  divine  things  ; 
that  I  might  be  better  prepared  to  set  forth  the 
glory  of  God,  and  speak  to  all  of  his  goodness. 
When  I  consider  how  little  I  have  done  for  God, 
for  the  honor  of  Christ,  and  the  good  of  others,  I 
am  constrained  to  cry,  O  Lord,  renew  my  strength, 
increase  my  faith,  and  love,  and  zeal." 


76  MEMOIR    OF 

M  May  26.  Yesterday  was  the  funeral  of  Miss 
O L ,  (referred  to  in  a  preceding  para- 
graph.) Our  dear  sister  was  indeed  afflicted  with 
great  and  sore  troubles  towards  the  close  of  her 
life,  not  having  been  favored  with  the  exercise  of 
her  reason,  except  at  very  short  intervals.  I  cannot 
but  trust  that  she  has  made  a  happy  exchange. 
While  the  Lord  is  preparing  and  receiving  one  and 
another  into  a  blessed  communion  with  himself  in 
his  church  below,  he  is  making  others  ready  for, 
and  callinsr  them  to  a  more  glorious  communion 
with  himself,  with  saints  and  angels,  in  the  church 
triumphant  above.  This  is  the  second  member  of 
our  church  that  has  been  called  away  since  I  be- 
came connected  with  it ;  and  perhaps  the  next 
coming  of  our  Lord  will  be  for  me.  This  provi- 
dence shall  help  me  to  be  in  readiness.  I  think  I 
would  fain  leave  all  that  I  hold  near  and  dear  on 
earth,  to  go  and  possess  an  everlasting  inheritance 
in  heaven.  Nothing  is  here  to  detain  me — nothing 
that  can  win  my  affections  from  God.  While  I  con- 
tinue here,  I  shall  probably  be  subject  to  tempta- 
tions and  sin ;  but  O  may  I  never  be  left  to  discou- 
rage myself  in  unbelief,  as  did  my  sister  L . 

God  forbid  that  I  should  ever  be  so  ungrateful  as 
to  doubt  my  interest  in  the  great  atonement,  after 
having  been  blest  with  so  much  light  and  evidence, 
and  such  a  long  continued  assurance  of  his  love  and 
favor.  I  often  feel  reproved  for  this  sin  of  unbelie£ 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  77 

I  know  I  have  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  depart- 
ing from  the  object  I  love.  The  Lord  pardon  me ; 
and  when  the  evening  of  life  sets  in,  may  I  enjoy 
the  light  of  thy  countenance.  As  my  outward  man 
perishes  day  by  day,  may  my  inward  man  be  day 
by  day  renewed ;  and  O,  may  I  retain  the  free  use 
of  all  my  mental  faculties,  in  their  undiminished 
energy,  in  my  last  moments,  arid  bear  an  honorable 
testimony  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  when  on  the 
eve  of  departing  to  receive  the  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  conquerors  shall  wear." 

(To  her  cousin  Frances  M .) 

11  Northeast,  Jane  10,  1828.     , 

M  My  dear  Cousin ,  As  you  sent  your  love 

to  me  in  your  letter  to  sister  Elizabeth,  I  assure 
you  I  received  it  with  much  pleasure.  I  do  indeed 
thank  you  for  your  kind  remembrance,  and,  agree- 
ably to  your  request,  1  now  engage  in  the  delight- 
ful employment  of  writing  to  you.  I  hope  you  en- 
joy a  comfortable  assurance  of  the  love  of  God,  and 
daily  make  proficiency  in  grace  and  knowledge. 
By  your  letter,  I  am  made  acquainted  with  the  feel- 
ings of  your  heart,  and  am  pleased  to  find  them  so 
much  in  conformity  with  the  religion  of  Jesus 
Christ.  From  the  views  which  you  have  of  your 
own  heart,  I  conclude  you  have  indeed  been  blest 
with  the  influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  If  you  in- 
7* 


78  MEMOIR   OF 

deed  know  the  Lord,  you  surely  must  feel  your  ob- 
ligations to  acknowledge  him  before  the  world,  and 
publicly  devote  yourself,  with  a  pure  heart  and  a 
willing  mind,  to  his  service ;  for,  be  assured,  my 
dear  friend,  by  so  doing  you  will  find  liberty,  joy, 
and  abundance  of  peace  to  your  soul.  I  know  not 
but  you  have  made  a  public  profession  of  your  at- 
tachment to  Christ  before  this  j  but  if  you  have  not, 
I  hope  you  will  soon  be  constrained,  by  the  love 
you  bear  to  the  Savior,  to  take  up  your  cross  and 
follow  him,  regardless  of  what  the  world  may  say  of 
you  ;  unreservedly  give  yourself  to  God  in  an  ever- 
lasting covenant ;  and,  trusting  in  him,  perform  your 
vows.  Seek  to  know  the  Lord's  will,  and  ask  of  him 
grace  to  do  it. 

11  O  how  can  we  duly  estimate  the  unspeakable 
love  of  God  manifested  in  our  redemption  !  How 
great  the  price  that  ransomed  us  !  It  calls  upon  me 
to  surrender  my  all  to  him,  as  I  have  many  times, 
in  the  strength  of  the  Lord,  endeavored  to  do — to 
be  his  willing  and  obedient  servant.  As  often  as  I 
feel  myself  constrained  to  dedicate  myself  anew  to 
him,  I  never  fail  of  receiving  so  often  the  blessing 
of  peace  and  comfort  to  my  soul.  When  I  consider 
the  abundant  goodness  of  God  to  me,  the  least  and 
most  unworthy  of  all  his  servants,  I  am  lost  in  won- 
der, love,  and  praise.  It  is  by  the  grace  of  God 
alone  that  I  am  made  to  differ. 

M  Some  who,  perhaps,  know  but  little  of  the  life 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  79 

and  power  of  religion,  have  concluded  that  I  must 
be  miserable,  because  deprived  of  health,  and  made 
to  suffer  so  much  and  so  long.  But  ah  !  how  mis- 
taken !  I  know,  by  experience,  that  to  be  deprived 
of  the  light  of  God's  countenance  alone  can  make 
me  truly  miserable. 

11  Since  the  first  of  March,  we  have  tried  new 
medicines,  but  without  effect.  I  never  expect  to 
enjoy  health  again  ;  but  think  I  shall  go  gradually 
down  to  the  grave.  I  am  confident  I  fail.  In  gene- 
ral, I  sit  up  about  an  hour  in  the  day.  I  know  not 
that  I  have  any  choice  whether  to  live  or  die.  I 
feel  myself  an  unprofitable  servant.  But  if  I  choose 
to  live,  it  is  that  I  may  do  something  for  the  glory 
of  God,  the  honor  of  Christ,  and  the  good  of  others- 

,{  This  mortal  frame  of  mine  has  more  and  more 
the  appearance  of  death.  Indeed,  I  have  something 
like  the  image  of  death  continually  before  me, 
which  reminds  me  of  its  near  approach,  and  which 
makes  me  feel  the  importance  of  being  continually 
prepared  to  meet  it.  If  I  know  my  own  heart,  I 
have  no  fear  of  death,  and  often  think  I  could  wel- 
come it,  as  the  sweet  messenger  of  peace. 

1  Our  life,  how  short !  a  groan — a  sigh ; 
'We  live— and  then  begin  to  die  :— 
4  But  O  how  great  a  mercy  this, 
4  That  death's  the  portal  into  bliss  !' 

"  And  now,  my  dear  Frances,  Jet  us  put  on  the 


80  MEMOIR   OF 

whole  armor  of  God.  That  grace  which  will  en- 
able us  to  stand  against  the  foes  which  daily  assail 
us,  will  also  bring  us  off  conquerors  over  death. 

"  I  have  not  room  to  say  much  with  respect  to  the 
state  of  religion  amongst  us  now ;  but  we  trust  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord  has  not  departed.  Some  are  yet 
inquiring  the  way  to  Zion. 

u  I  am  your  affectionate  cousin, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 

Her  journal  thus  proceeds  : 

"  June  26.  When  I  look  abroad  from  my  win- 
dow, from  the  place  of  my  long  confinement,  and 
behold  the  face  of  the  earth  revisited  with  the 
beauties  of  summer,  I  think,  O  that  I  could  now 
and  then  retreat  into  some  solitary  shade,  far 
from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  the  busy  scenes  of  life. 
Often  would  I  betake  myself  to  such  a  spot,  conse- 
crated to  meditation  and  devotion. 

"  How  delightful  to  trace  my  Maker's  hand  in  his 
works  !  O  Lord,  thou  art  near  in  every  thing  around 
me  ;  but  nearer  in  thy  Son.  In  the  heavens  I  see 
thy  wisdom  and  power;  but  in  thine  Anointed  I 
see  thy  grace  and  share  thy  love.  Thou  art  near 
in  the  works  of  thy  hands,  to  convince  Atheists  ; 
but  nearer  in  thy  word  of  grace,  to  convert  sinners 
and  comfort  saints;  therefore  in  my  confinement 
I  will  think  upon  thy  word,  peruse  the  divine 
pages,  and  dwell  upon  the  plan  of  redeeming  Jove, 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  81 

where  all  the  attributes  and  perfections  of  God 
beam  forth  with  a  radiance  and  beauty  that  cannot 
pass  through  the  grosser  creation  ;  too  bright  for 
the  eye  of  seraphim  to  fix  upon.  Here  then  will 
I  study  and  learn  for  eternity !" 

On  the  7th  of  July,  having  heard  from  a  minis- 
ter, providentially  in  the  place,  a  sermon  from  Gal. 
5  :  22,  23,  on  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  she  thus  ex- 
presses herself: 

M  I  have  endeavored  to  examine  myself  by  this, 
and  some  other  texts,  to  know  whether  I  am  indeed 
a  child  of  God  ;  whether  I  have  the  Spirit  of  Christ. 
If  I  have  not,  I  am  none  of  his.  But  herein  I  may 
know,  if  I  possess  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  mention- 
ed in  this  text,  which  alone  constitute  the  christian 
character.  Happy  the  soul  which  is  endowed  with 
'  love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  good- 
ness, faith,  meekness,  temperance !  against  such 
there  is  no  law.'  I  do  think  the  attainment  of 
these  divine  qualifications  so  essential  to  my  present 
and  future  happiness,  that,  were  I  intentionally  de- 
ficient in  the  least  of  them,  I  should  consider  that 
I  had  no  right  to  expect  an  inheritance  among  the 
sanctified.  I  feel  my  weakness  and  imperfections  ; 
but  am  confident  of  this  one  thing,  that  he  that  hath 
begun  a  good  work  in  me  will  perform  it  until  the 
day  of  Jesus  Christ.     The  hope  of  a  blessed  inv 


82  MEMOIR   OF 

mortality  is  predominant  in  my  breast ;  and  I  feel 
happy  in  the  conclusion,  that  in  some  measure  I 
possess  the  Spirit,  and  bear  its  fruits ;  and  I  hope, 
through  grace,  to  go  on  from  one  degree  of  strength 
unto  another,  till  I  arrive  at  a  perfect  state  of  holi- 
ness, through  Christ,  my  Lord,  in  heaven." 

We  pass  on  to  July  31,  when  she  seems  to  have 
had  a  very  oppressive  sense  of  her  insensibility  and 
ingratitude,  and  of  the  depravity  of  her  heart.  I 
never  knew  a  person  who  appeared  to  see  more  of 
their  own  vileness  than  she  did ;  and  seldom  have 
I  found  one  so  pained  in  heart  on  account  of  it. 
She  says, 

V  I  have  been  favored  with  an  unusual  degree  of 
comfort  and  strength  of  body  for  a  little  time  past ; 
and  how  reasonable  that  all  the  powers  of  my  soal 
should  be  engaged  in  the  delightful  service  of  my 
Divine  Master !  But  to  these  mercies  I  have  been 
almost  insensible.  Surely  it  is  of  the  mercy  of  God 
that  I  am  not  consumed.  I  am  surrounded  with 
mercies,  yet  feel  myself  a  vile  and  ungrateful 
wretch.  The  more  I  receive,  the  more  insensible  I 
seem.  Alas  !  what  has  been  my  life,  but  a  life  of 
rebellion  against  God,  and  ingratitude  to  him.  Such 
is  the  depravity  of  my  heart,  that,  at  times,  it  ap- 
pears almost  swallowed  up  in  the  pollutions  of 
the  world.    Behold,  I  ain  vile !    O  Lord,  let  not 


HANNAH   HOBBLE.  S3 

iniquity  prevail  against  a  careless  and  a  sinful  crea- 
ture !  Save,  or  I  perish.  I  beseech  thee,  purify  my 
sin-defiled  soul.  I  have  no  righteousness  of  my 
own  ;  I  come  pleading  for  mercy  alone  through 
the  merits  of  Christ ;  I  would  lie  low  in  the  dust, 
and  confess  my  sins,  and  acknowledge  my  unwor- 
thiness.  Send  thy  reviving  grace,  I  pray  thee,  and 
strengthen  my  soul.  That  which  I  know  not,  teach 
thou  me.  If  I  have  done  iniquity,  O  for  grace  that 
I  may  do  so  no  more  !  Suffer  me  not,  O  Lord,  to 
live  in.  a  state  of  carelessness  and  indifference.  Let 
this  renewed  experience  of  my  weakness  and 
wretchedness  influence  me  to  seek  more  earnestly 
that  grace  by  which  alone  I  can  be  kept  from 
falling  into  the  greatest  sins  here,  and  into  the 
depths  of  misery  hereafter." 

It  is  worthy  of  observation,  and  yet  no  more  than 
might  be  expected,  that  there  is  no  instance,  as  I 
believe,  in  all  her  christian  life,  when  she  poured 
out  her  soul  in  such  deep  repentance  and  self- 
abasement  for  her  sins,  and  in  such  fervent  desires 
for  new  life  and  quickening  grace,  in  which  she 
was  disappointed  of  a  speedy  answer  to  her  prayer. 
She  felt  that  it  was  a  matter  of  the  utmost  moment 
to  be  assured  that  her  heart  was  right  with  God, 
and  that  God  was  her  Friend  and  her  portion.  She 
could  not  be  satisfied  without  the  joy  of  God's  sal- 
vation and  the  upholding  of  his  free  Spirit.    On 


84  memoir  or 

the  5th  of  August  we  see  this  clearly  exhibited, 

te  I  earnestly  besought  the  Lord  that  he  would 
make  me  more  sensible  of  his  goodness ;  dis- 
cover to  me  the  evil  of  my  heart,  and  show  me 
wherein  I  do  wickedly,  that  I  might  repent  and 
reform ;  and  now  I  praise  his  name  that  he  has 
graciously  condescended  to  hear  my  prayer,  and  in 
a  measure  to  grant  it.  I  acknowledge  his  faith- 
fulness, and  would  here  record  his  goodness  to  his 
poor,  ungrateful  servant.  I  thank  thee,  O  Lord, 
that  thou  hast  appeared  for  my  help. 

•  I  hate  the  sins  that  made  thee  mourn, 
*  And  drove  thee  from  my  breast/ 

H  I  look  upon  him  whom  I  have  pierced,  and 
mourn.  Lord,  bless  me  with  a  broken  heart,  and 
lead  me  weeping  and  mourning  for  my  sins,  all  the 
way  to  Canaan,  if  need  he.  O  for  wisdom  to  direct 
my  unwary  feet !  Lord,  I  would  learn  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus  alone — learn  thy  will — learn  to  do  it,  and 
learn  to  bear  it.  '  Make  me  to  walk  in  the  way  of 
thy  commandments,  for  therein  do  I  delight/  " 

M  Aug.  10.  How  shall  I  recount  the  many  bless* 
ings  I  have  enjoyed  of  late.  The  Lord  has,  in  wis- 
dom, taken  from  me  some  outward  mercies,  yet,  I 
trust,  with  the  blessed  design  of  showing  me  great- 
er. I  have  suffered,  at  times,  an  increase  of  bodily 
pain,  and  find  my  strength  more  impaired ;  but  O 
how  great  the  mercy  that  enables  me,  in  the  bit- 


RAXNAH    H0BBIE,  80 

terness  of  pain,  to  be  peaceful,  happy,  resigned, 
and  even  cheerful.  Nothing  intrudes  so  much 
upon  the  calmness  of  my  mind  as  a  sense  of  my 
own  vileness  and  unprofitableness.  The  words  of 
an  eminently  pious  lady,  who  often  tasted  the  cup 
of  affliction,  frequently  occur  to  me,  and  I  feel  a 
pleasure  in  adopting  them  as  my  own :  *  Let  me 
never  complain  of  the  burden  of  suffering,  while  I 
remember  my  manifold  transgressions  ;  but  rather 
wonder  at  the  Lord's  gracious  long-suffering,  and 
admire  his  goodness,  who  is,  with  the  chastisement 
of  his  love,  driving  me  to  heaven,  when  he  might, 
by  the  strokes  of  his  wrath,  have  long  since  driven 
me  to  hell.' 

11  This  is  the  Lord's  day :  I  am  debarred  the 
privileges  of  the  sanctuary.  '  How  amiable  are 
thy  tabernacles,  O  Lord  of  hosts  !  my  soul  long- 
eth,  yea,  even  fainteth  for  the  courts  of  the 
Lord ;  my  heart  and  my  flesh  crieth  out  for  the 
living  God  !'  O  when  shall  I  appear  before  thee  ! 
They  are  called  blessed  who  dwell  in  thy  house. 
1  They  go  from  strength  to  strength/  Though  de- 
prived of  the  blessing  of  God's  house,  yet  I  rejoice* 
The  Savior  has  said,  (  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn, 
for  they  shall  be  comforted.  Blessed  are  they  that 
hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness,  for  they  shall 
be  filled.'  Surely  in  the  word  of  the  Lord  is  abun- 
dant consolation;  therefore  I  will  delight  myself 
in  it ;  and  in  his  law  my  meditation  shall  be  sweet, 
H.Hobbi*  8 


66  MEMOIR   OF 

H  At  the  beginning  of  another  week,  and  on  this 
holy  Sabbath,  (as  I  have  long  been  wont  to  do,)  I 
desire  to  reneio  my  covenant  to  be  the  Lord's ;  and 
may  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  be  upon  me  through 
the  week.,, 

The  blessing  of  the  Lord  was  upon  her ;  and  she 
delighted  to  do  good  as  God  gave  her  opportunity. 
The  same  week,  besides  many  other  things  which 
she  did,  to  show  her  love  for  God  and  evince  her 
strong  desire  for  the  good  of  her  friends,  she  wrote 
to  a  cousin,  recently  married,  the  following  letter : 

"  Northeast,  August  15,  1828. 
M  My  dear  Cousin, — As  we  are  now  separated 
far  from  each  other,  and  deprived  of  the  happiness 
of  personal  intercourse,  I  avail  myself  of  an  oppor- 
tunity of  addressing  you  by  letter.  The  scenes  of 
our  childhood  often  occur  to  my  mind,  and  the 
time  has  been  when  I  took  pleasure  in  thinking 
upon  them  ;  but  now  I  look  back  with  shame  and 
regret,  that  the  time  we  spent  in  those  amusements 
(however  innocent  they  then  appeared)  had  not 
been  occupied  in  preparing  for  future  usefulness  in 
this  life,  and  for  a  never-ending  eternity.  But  as  it 
is  of  no  use  to  dwell  upon  our  past  errors,  except  to 
repent  and  reform,  let  our  time  past  suffice  to  have 
done  wickedly,  and  may  we,  in  time  to  come,  do 
only  that  which  is  good. 


IIANNAH    JIOBBIE.  87 

H  We  were  led  by  the  hand  of  Providence  in 
the  earlier  stage  of  life  apparently  alike,  in  the 
same  smooth  and  even  course ;  but  how  vastly  dif- 
ferent have  been  the  dealings  of  God  with  us  since  ! 
While  you,  to  human  appearance,  have  been  led 
quietly  along,  blessed  with  uninterrupted  health, 
enjoying  the  pleasures  of  youthful  folly,  and  the 
comforts  of  this  world ;  I  have  been  led  through  a 
wilderness  of  sorrows  ;  afflicted  and  rendered  inca- 
pable of  joining  my  gay  companions  in  the  follies 
and  amusements  of  life.  I  have  now  no  relish  for 
them.  But  here  let  us  learn  wisdom  ;  for  the  hand 
of  an  all-wise  Providence  hath  done  it  all.  Sinful 
and  foolish,  we  naturally  prefer  the  poor  and  short- 
lived pleasures  of  this  world  to  the  happiness 
which  religion  offers  us  ;  but  happy  is  it  that  some 
are  not  left  to  their  own  choice,  which  would  lead 
them  on  to  irrecoverable  ruin.  My  dear  friend,  I 
can  most  truly  say,  that  it  is  all  in  love  that  I  have 
been  chastised.  By  this  I  have  been  led  to  see  the 
error  of  my  ways  ;  to  embrace  the  Savior  in  such 
great  love  provided,  and  walk  in  the  way  which 
leads  to  happiness  and  heaven. 

M  O  how  happy  should  I  be,  were  I  assured  that 
you  too  had  been  convinced  of  the  evil  of  sin,  and 
that  you  forsake  and  abhor  it  as  rebellion  against 
the  God  of  heaven.  It  is  a  pernicious  cup;  drink 
it,  and  it  brings  eternal  death.  We  have  seen  but 
a  few  years  of  human  life,  yet   I  doubt  not,  as 


88  MEMOIR   OF 

you  look  back,  even  now,  you  can  say  with  me, 
•  childhood  and  youth  are  vanity.' 

"  As  you  are  now  settled  in  life,  you  probably 
expect  to  live  long  in  the  enjoyment  of  domestic 
happiness  ;  but  be  entreated,  my  dear  cousin,  not 
to  permit  the  concerns  of  this  life  to  engross  your 
time  and  your  affections.  O  consider  that  you  are 
mortal — that  all  beneath  the  sun  is  fading  and 
transitory  ;  and  let  this  excite  in  you  an  immediate 
concern  for  the  welfare  of  your  never-dying  soul. 
I  pray  you,  delay  not  the  important  work  of  re- 
pentance; but  *  remember  now  your  Creator  in 
the  days  of  your  youth/  before  the  evil  days  come, 
when  you  will  say,  '  I  have  no  pleasure  in  them.' 

"  My  health,  upon  the  whole,  is  no  better  than 
when  you  last  saw  me.  You  recollect  my  promise, 
that  if  I  ever  found  strength  enough  I  would  visit 

you  at  S ;  but  as  I  did  not  anticipate  much 

the  pleasure  of  doing  so,  I  am  not  at  all  disappoint- 
ed. I  fancy  I  see  you,  many  times,  seated  in  your 
new  habitation,  alone  and  pensive,  your  mind  fixed 
upon  your  native  place,  and  perhaps  sighing  for 
the  company  of  those  to  whom  you  have  so  long 
been  attached.    But  I  hope   you  have  found   in 

S a  society  kind  and  obliging,  which  will 

in  a  measure  make  up  the  loss  you  have  sustained 
by  a  removal. 

"  I  should  be  highly  gratified  to  receive  a  few 
lines  from  you,  and  to  know  how  you  have  en- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  89 

joyed  yourself  since  you  left  your  father's  house. 
Sister  E.  sends  love. 

M  Perhaps  my  letter  is  of  too  serious  a  charac- 
ter to  meet  your  approbation ;  but  I  think  the 
importance  of  the  subject  a  sufficient  apology  for 
even  more  than  I  have  said.  I  consider  it  most 
worthy  of  my  own  time  and  attention,  and  surely 
there  is  none  upon  which  I  so  much  delight  to 
dwell,  either  in  my  meditations  or  my  interviews 
with  others.  My  sincere  desire  is,  that  you  may 
profit  by  it  also. 

"Your  most  affectionate  friend  and  cousin, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 

There  is  in  this  letter  an  admirable  simplicity, 
an  honest  fidelity  and  frankness,  mingled  with  an 
easy  and  touching  allusion  to  former  scenes  and 
friendships,  which  are  well  adapted  to  the  great 
object  she  had  in  view,  in  respect  to  an  individual 
not  only  careless  of  her  soul's  concerns,  but  averse 
to  the  whole  subject. 

(To  an  aunt  in  New- York.) 

"  Northeast,  August  23,  1828. 

"  My  dear  Aunt, — I  acknowledge  the  receipt 

of  the  recent  tokens  of  your  affection,  and  return 

you  my  sincere  thanks.    It  would  be  rude  in  me 

QOt  to  express  my  gratification  on  hearing  that  you 

3* 


90  MEMOIR    OF 

have  also  named  your  little  daughter  Hannah  Hob* 
bi&,  I  was  surprised  that  such  a  mark  of  affection 
should  be  conferred  upon  the  most  unworthy  of  all 
your  friends  and  connections.  Be  assured,  that 
while  I  retain  the  use  of  my  faculties,  it  will  be  my 
happiness  to  commend  her  in  my  prayers  to  the 
special  care  of  a  merciful  Providence.  O  that  she 
may  be  a  child  of  grace — an  everlasting  monument 
of  divine  love  and  mercy  ! 

tc  We  are  very  much  pleased  with  our  young 
cousins.  I  am  happy  to  discover  in  them,  at  so 
early  an  age,  such  an  inclination  to  obtain  useful 
instruction.  I  learn  that  they  are  favored  with  the 
privilege  of  attending  Sabbath-school  when  at 
home,  and  I  trust  the  instruction  they  there  receive 
will  be  a  lasting  benefit  to  their  souls.  I  rejoice  to 
hear  of  the  flourishing  state  of  the  churches  in 
New- York;  that  though  iniquity  abounds,  grace 
does  much  more  abound.  I  rejoice  to  hear,  also,  of 
the  prosperity  of  Zion  in  other  places.    I  learn  that 

the  Lord  is  reviving  his  work  in  G .    O  that  it 

may  extend  to  the  dear  society  of  our  friends  in 
B .  The  revival  which  has  existed  in  our  so- 
ciety for  a  few  months,  has,  in  a  measure,  subsided ; 
but  the  pious  among  us  are  still  awake  to  duty 
more  than  before.  A  Sunday-school  has  been  com- 
menced this  summer  at  the  church,  and  has,  we 
think,  increased  our  congregation  not  a  little.  The 
fcchool  wears  a  pleasing  aspect  at  present ;  and  I 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  91 

think,  if  continued,  it  will  greatly  alter  the  charac- 
ter of  the  place,  and  be  an  inestimable  blessing  to 
us.  I  esteem  this  the  best  plan  ever  adopted  for 
instilling  into  the  minds  of  children  and  youth  the 
all-important  things  of  religion.  How  necessary  to 
have  good  teachers  !  Such  as  have  the  love  of  God 
in  their  own  hearts  are  demanded,  and  ought  to  be 
obtained.  How  favored  are  we  in  this  enlightened 
and  peaceful  land  !  We  may  truly  sing  of  mercy 
as  well  as  of  judgment.  O  that  we  may  ever  see  and 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  God  in  this,  and  in  every 
affair  of  life,  and  learn  to  adore  him  in  all  his  deal- 
ings with  us,  whether  in  prosperity  or  adversity  ! 

"  I  sympathise  with  you  in  your  afflictions,  and 
pray  that  the  best  of  heaven's  blessings  may  rest 
upon  my  dear  uncle  and  aunt  and  their  family,  es- 
pecially upon  my  little  namesake. 

"  Please  to  give  my  love  to  uncle  and  aunt  C. 
and  tell  them  I  know  not  how  to  be  sufficiently 
thankful  for  the  Tracts  they  were  so  kind  as  to 
send  me.  Your  affectionate  niece, 

M  Hannah  Hobbie." 

I  now  come  back  to  her  journal  with  delight  ; 
indeed,  when  I  designed  to  make  selections  for  the 
public  eye,  and  took  it  up  for  that  purpose  alone, 
I  have  often  been  insensibly  betrayed  into  a  con- 
tinued and  absorbing  perusal  of  it  for  many  pages  ; 
while  my  heart  has  become  affected,  and  my  sensi- 


92  MEMOIR   OF 

bilities  strongly  awakened.  It  has  thus  often  en- 
gaged my  attention,  and  drawn  forth  the  tear,  when 
I  only  sat  down  to  select  for  others.  Under  date 
of  August  29,  she  thus  writes  : 

"O  for  language  to  extol  the  religion  of  Jesus  ! 
O  for  an  angel's  tongue  to  proclaim  the  wonders  of 
his  grace  ;  to  sing  the  praises  of  him  who  has  given 
me  to  share  in  the  comforts  of  his  pardoning  love! 
Surely,  never  did  my  heart  possess  more  sincere 
love  to  God  ;  never  did  I  more  ardently  desire  the 
promotion  of  his  glory  and  the  enlargement  of  his 
kingdom  than  of  late.  By  the  love  of  God  I  have 
been  constrained  to  exercise  faith  in  the  promises 
of  his  word,  and  have  been  led  to  discern  so  clearly 
the  hand  of  God  in  answer  to  prayer,  that  I  think  I 
may  never  again  distrust  him.  The  mercies  of  a 
kind  Providence  are,  to  me,  a  sufficient  incentive 
to  more  diligence  in  duty,  more  activity  in  his  ser- 
vice. Though  languishing  on  a  bed  of  sickness,  I 
am  surrounded  by  kind  and  affectionate  friends, 
ready  to  administer  outward  comfort,  and,  many 
of  them,  inward  consolations.  Some,  more  dis- 
tantly related  to  me,  have  of  late  evinced  their  at- 
tachment and  sympathy  in  a  peculiar  manner. 

"  While  this  is  so,  and  those  who  are  bound  to 
me  by  the  ties  of  nature  are  ever  desirous  of  per- 
forming kind  offices  for  my  temporal  good,  can  it  be 
justly  said  that  I  am  a  child  of  adversity  ]  In  the 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  V6 

midst  of  bodily  suffering  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  lift 
upon  me  the  light  of  his  countenance,  which  puts 
into  my  soul  the  most  sublime  joy  and  gladness.  I 
have  trusted  in  his  mercy,  and  I  am  enabled  to  re- 
joice in  his  salvation  from  day  to  day." 

Soon  after  this  date  her  physicians  despaired  en- 
tirely of  her  recovery.  The  ravages  of  a  relent- 
less disease,  working  its  issue  with  a  process  so 
painful  and  distressing  that  probably  few  have  ever 
been  placed  under  circumstances  equally  trying, 
were  now  developing  themselves  with  more  dis- 
tinctness and  inveteracy.  None  can  judge  of  her 
sufferings  from  her  journal  or  letters.  We,  who 
saw  her,  could  form  a  better  opinion ;  but  as 
she  seldom  complained,  even  when  her  counte- 
nance strongly  indicated  the  raging  of  the  terrible 
commotion  which  frequently  racked  her  frame  with 
agony,  even  her  most  intimate  companions  and  at- 
tendants, I  am  certain,  knew  little  of  what  she 
really  suffered.  To  this  interesting  point  her  his- 
tory is  now  brought ;  but  as  that  occurrence  stands 
intimately  connected  with  a  subsequent  season  of 
uncommon  brightness  in  her  christian  life,  I  reserve 
it  for  the  succeeding  chapter,  which  will  embrace 
a  season  of  about  three  months,  wonderfully  mark- 
ed with  the  light  of  her  Heavenly  Father's  coun- 
tenance. 


04  MEMOIR   OP 


CHAPTER  VI. 

JOY   AND    TRIUMPH    IN    GOD. 

It  is  a  solemn  thing  to  think  of  dying ;  to  bring 
the  awful  reality  home  to  ourselves,  and  fix  the  eye 
steadily  upon  it.  Visions  of  death,  dim  and  distant, 
have  often  flitted  before  those  whose  eyes  may  fall 
upon  these  pages ;  but  did  they  ever  come  very 
near,  and  clothe  themselves  in  something  like  the 
distinctness  of  reality  ]  To  feel  the  fangs  of  a  fatal 
disease,  fastened  with  a  firm  and  relentless  hold 
upon  our  vitals ;  to  contemplate  the  grave  as  our 
speedy  abode,  and  lie  upon  its  verge,  without  hope 
of  rescue  from  its  dark  and  dreary  dominion  ;  to  say 
to  corruption,  thou  art  my  father ;  and  to  the  worm, 
thou  art  my  mother  and  my  sister ;  these  will  try 
the  heart  as  it  never  has  been  tried  before.  It  is  a 
trying  thing  to  leave  all  below,  and  that  for  ever; 
to  part  with  the  kindred  who  have  grown  up  by 
our  side ;  who  have  met  with  us  at  the  same  table, 
and  warmed  at  the  same  fire ;  who  have  endeared 
themselves  to  our  hearts  by  a  thousand  proofs  of 
true  and  tried  affection. 

My  dear  reader,  did  you  ever  think  of  dying? 
Remember  that  death  will  come  upon  you  and  upon 
me.    Not  all  the  fortifications  that  we  can  throw 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  95 

around  the  citadel  of  life  will  arrest  the  entrance  of 
the  destroyer  for  a  moment. 

The  cold  hand  that  has  stopped  the  vital  current  so 
often,  and  peopled  the  grave  with  so  many  genera- 
tions, will  one  day  be  found  thrusting  in  its  icy  fin- 
gers upon  the  fountains  of  life  within  our  bosoms, 
and  feeling  after  our  heart-strings.  Perhaps  you 
think  that  will  be  an  hour  of  consternation  and  dis- 
may. But  grace,  almighty  grace,  what  can  it  not 
accomplish  1  It  can  smooth  the  rough  pathway  of 
life,  and  has  done  it  for  many  a  mourner.  It  can 
make  the  soul  calm,  and  even  joyful,  in  the  imme- 
diate prospect  of  death.  Such  grace  was  given  to 
Hannah  Hobbie. 

The  following  passage  in  her  journal  will  show 
her  feelings  when  the  physicians  in  attendance  an- 
nounced to  her  that  they  had  no  hope  of  her  re- 
covery : 

"  September  12.  A  long  and  faithful  applica- 
tion of  the  means  prescribed  for  the  restoration  of 
my  health  has  proved  ineffectual.  It  appears  to  be 
the  Lord's  will  that  I  should  labor  under  a  compli- 
cation of  disorders,  which  will  inevitably  bring  me 
down  to  the  grave.  There  the  wicked  cease  from 
troubling,  and  there  the  weary  are  at  rest.  Notwith- 
standing all  this,  I  have  reason  to  adopt  David's 
language,  and  say,  *  How  many  are  thy  thoughts 
of  mercy  towards  me  ;  how  great  is  the  sum  of  them. 


96  MEMOIR   OF 

Thou  hast  made  me  glad,  according  to  the  days 
wherein  thou  hast  afflicted  me ;'  and,  praised  be  thy 
name,  that,  though  abandoned  by  earthly  physi- 
cians, I  yet  may  have  recourse  to  the  great  Physi- 
cian of  souls,  who  is  '  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever- 
more/ Unto  him  I  apply ;  to  his  will  I  most  cheer- 
fully submit ;  and  in  it  I  freely  and  fully  acquiesce* 
11  To  thee,  O  Lord,  I  consecrate  my  all.  In  thy 
service  I  desire  to  spend  all  the  remnant  of  my 
time  upon  earth.  I  beg  that  thou  wouldst  instruct 
and  influence  me  so,  that,  whether  my  abode  here 
be  longer  or  shorter,  every  day  and  hour  may  be 
used  in  such  a  manner  as  shall  most  effectually  pro- 
mote thine  honor,  and  subserve  thy  wise  and  gra- 
cious schemes  of  providence.  Use  me,  O  Lord,  I 
beseech  thee,  as  an  instrument  for  thy  glory,  and 
let  me,  either  by  doing  or  suffering  what  thou  shalt 
appoint,  bring  some  revenue  of  praise  to  thee, 
and  of  benefit  to  the  world  in  which  I  dwell*" 

The  following  was  written  on  the  26th  of  Sep- 
tember, to  an  aunt,  also  a  child  of  affliction  : 

M  It  appears  to  be  the  Lord's  will  that  we  should 
yet  continue  in  the  school  of  affliction,  and  I  hope 
we  are  both  making  proficiency  daily  in  the  Wise 
and  important  lessons  which  it  so  effectually 
teaches.  I  consider  it  the  best  of  all  schools,  be* 
cause  the  Teacher  is  heavenly  and  divine. 


HANNAH    HOBBIE,  97 

M  I  think  I  can  say,  with  humble  gratitude,  that 
my  spiritual  joy  and  strength,  for  a  short  time  past, 
have  surpassed  any  thing  which  I  ever  before  expe- 
rienced. 0  that  I  may  not  forfeit  the  continuance 
of  the  Lord's  mercies,  by  forgetting  this  season  of 
his  loving-kindness.  'Tis  true,  I  have  been  occasion- 
ally disturbed  by  temptations,  but  in  the  strength 
of  grace  I  have  been  enabled  to  resist ;  and  my  faith, 
hope,  and  joy  have  been,  for  the  most  part,  abiding. 

M  I  desire  to  bear  testimony  to  the  truths  and 
comforts  of  religion,  that  others  may  be  encouraged 
to  '  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith/  trusting  in  the 
Lord,  who  alone  is  our  righteousness  and  strength. 
I  hope  my  dear  aunt  enjoys  much  of  heavenly  com- 
fort while  passing  through  this  world  of  trouble. 
Let  this,  especially,  afford  abundant  consolation,  that 
the  hour  of  release  will  shortly  come.  Let  the  con- 
sideration of  the  shortness  of  life  contribute  to  re- 
concile  us  to  its  trials. 

'  When  a  few  more  years  are  wasted, 

'  When  a  few  more  months  are  o'er, 

*  When  a  few  more  griefs  we've  tasted, 

We  shall  rest  on  Canaan's  shore.' 

M  O  how  precious  to  the  believer  are  the  pro- 
mises of  the  Gospel !  how  sweet  the  consolation 
the  book  of  God  affords  !  may  it  be  our  guide  until 
death !         Farewell. 

11  Hannah  Hobbie  " 

H.  Hobbie  9 


98  MEMOIR   OF 

•*  October  3.  I  here  record  as  among  the  mul- 
titude of  the  Lord's  tender  mercies  to  me,  an  un- 
worthy worm  of  the  dust,  that  last  evening  a  minis- 
ter, almost  a  stranger  in  the  place,  was  providen- 
tially led  to  our  house,  by  missing  his  way.  O  the 
happiness  I  enjoyed  in  joining  with  him  in  conver- 
sation and  prayer.  In  conversing  upon  heavenly 
and  divine  things,  especially  about  the  dealings  of 
God  with  myself,  I  felt  a  freedom  which  I  seldom 
have  felt  before.  Truly,  it  was  a  delightful  season 
to  me ;  one  which,  I  trust,  will  long  be  remembered. 
How  sweet  the  society  of  the  friends  of  the  blessed 
Jesus  !  O  how  do  I  love  them  that  bear  my  Savior's 
image,  especially  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel." 

I  had  at  this  period  frequent  interviews  with  this 
beloved  child  of  God,  and  found  that,  though  her 
"  outward  man"  was  perishing  day  by  day,  there  was 
the  most  gratifying  evidence  that  she  was  growing 
eminently  holy.  All  that  she  said  evinced  the  en- 
ergy of  her  spiritual  life — the  daily  renewal  of  the 
inner  man,  and  displayed  the  power  of  divine  grace 
ripening  her  spirit  for  heaven,  while  the  flesh  and 
the  heart  were  failing  under  the  pains  which  she 
suffered.  At  intervals,  however,  God  kindly  gave 
her  a  partial  relief  from  excessive  distress  of  body, 
and  such  seasons  were  always  precious,  because 
they  afforded  opportunities  to  be  more  useful  to 
others,  and  to  enjoy  the  society  of  her  christian 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  99 

friends.  She  was  always  calm  at  this  season,  under 
the  full  and  delightful  impression  that  her  interests, 
for  time  and  eternity,  were  in  the  wisest  keeping. 
During  the  period  on  which  we  have  now  entered, 
I  never  heard  her  mourn  over  any  thing  respecting 
ner  outward  condition  but  this,  that  she  was  kept 
away  from  the  house  of  God ;  and  she  bowed  al- 
ways to  this  deprivation  with  a  sweet  and  quiet 
spirit,  because  it  was  her  heavenly  Father's  will. 

The  attentive  reader  has  discovered,  doubtless, 
that  God  was  gradually  manifesting  himself  to  this 
waiting  disciple  more  and  more,  and  apparently 
preparing  her  for  some  precious  tokens  of  his  lov- 
ing-kindness. These  expectations  were  evidently 
excited  in  herself,  and,  step  by  step,  she  was  brought 
nearer  and  nearer  to  God,  until  a  full  and  refresh- 
ing blaze  of  light  burst  upon  her  in  unclouded  glo- 
ry ;  and  for  a  considerable  time  not  a  single  doubt 
obscured  her  spiritual  vision.  But  I  hasten  to 
adopt  her  own  language,  in  giving  a  view  of  God's 
dealings  with  her  at  this  interesting  period  of  her 
history. 

u  October  6.  Shall  I  cease  to  speak  of  the  di- 
vine favor  %  Shall  this  long  season,  in  which  I  have 
enjoyed  peculiar  benefits,  be  forgotten  ?  O  Lord 
forbid  it !  While  I  have  strength  to  use  my  pen  I 
will  record  thy  goodness  ;  and  when  I  am  no  longer 
able  to  do  this,  I  will  think  with  delight  upon  all 


100  MEMOIR   OF 

that  I  now  enjoy,  and  turn  back  to  these  records  of 
thy  doings  with  me,  that  I  may  praise  thee  for  the 
past,  and  be  encouraged  to  trust  thee  for  the  future. 

ce  It  is  one  of  the  Lord's  mercies,  that  my  body, 
so  feeble,  is  supported  under  the  elevated  comforts 
and  ecstacies  of  joy  which  I,  at  times,  experience 
in  meditating  upon  the  glorious  attributes  of  God. 
It  is  now  some  time  since  darkness  or  doubt  has 
disturbed  my  peace ;  and  I  find  my  'joys  almost 
daily  increasing.  O  for  a  heart  and  tongue  to  mag- 
nify the  Lord,  who  is  manifesting  the  riches  of  his 
grace  to  such  a  poor,  worthless  sinner  as  I  am  ! 
What  unmerited  mercy  !  Yet  these  blessings  are 
offered  in  the  Gospel,  to  all  such  as  seek  diligently 
for  them.  Shall  I  then  be  satisfied  with  a  crumb, 
when  I  may  be  filled  with  the  bread  of  life?  How 
can  I  be  content  to  dwell  here,  when  there  are  so 
many  mansions  on  high,  where  is  happiness  un- 
mingled  for  evermore  !" 

"  October  10.     Mr.  H ,  the  minister  who 

missed  his  way  and  came  here  last  week,  attended 
a  meeting  with  us  last  evening,  and  preached  from 
1  John,  3:1;'  Behold  what  manner  of  love  the 
Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should  be 
called  the  sons  of  God.'  Application  and  address 
by  my  dear  pastor.  Through  the  blessing  of  God, 
1  was  enabled  to  hear  the  word,  I  think,  with  faith 
and  profit. 

"  I  am  still  enjoying  sensible  communion  with 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  101 

him  whom  my  60ul  loveth,  and  abundantly  filled 
with  heavenly  consolations.  Yet  I  have  a  thorn  in 
the  flesh  ;  something  to  keep  me  from  being  lifted 
up  with  these  large  measures  of  comfort.  I  feel  my 
own  helplessness.  O  Lord,  be  thou  my  help,  and 
let  me  not  forget  that  my  safety  is  in  thee.  May  I 
not  grieve  thy  Spirit,  nor  fall  into  folly  that  shall 
provoke  thee  to  depart." 

M  October  12.  My  mind  has  become  almost 
wholly  absorbed  in  the  contemplation  of  heavenly 
and  divine  things.  The  time  has  been  recently,  that 
it  was  with  difficulty  I  could  disengage  my  thoughts 
from  these  things  to  obtain  sleep  for  my  feeble  body. 
Last  night  was  almost  a  sleepless  one ;  and  to-day, 
though  1  feel  weak  in  body,  yet  thanks  be  to  God, 
who  strengthened  me  with  might,  by  his  Spirit,  in 
the  inward  man.  All  these  blessings  I  believe  to 
be  obtained  by  the  prayer  of  faith  ;  and  I  am  con- 
fident that  the  Lord  is  about  answering  prayer  for 
me,  in  many  things  which  of  late  I  have  so  much 
desired,  in  a  most  wonderful  manner.  I  have  found 
these  words  true  in  my  own  experience,  '  They 
that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their  strength  ; 
they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ;  they 
shall  run  and  not  be  weary,  and  they  shall  walk 
and  not  faint.'  " 

"  October  13.     Last  night  I  enjoyed  refreshing 
rest ;  and  as  I  am  permitted  to  see  the  return  of 
this,  my  natal  dayt  in  such  comfortable  circum- 
0* 


102  MEMOIR    OF 

stances,  I  resolve  to  devote  the  strength  of  it,  in  a 
great  measure,  to  God,  in  thanksgiving  and  prayer. 
This  last  year  of  my  life  has  been  the  happiest,  and 
I  think  the  best.  Although  I  have  come  far  short 
of  doing  my  duty  to  God,  yet  I  trust  I  have  been 
graciously  accepted  of  him.  One  evidence  of  this 
is,  the  great  blessings  he  is  now  conferring  upon 
me,  in  answer  to  long-continued  and  earnest  prayer 
that  he  would  renew  my  spiritual  strength,  increase 
my  faith  and  love,  and  give  me  more  zeal  in  his  ser- 
vice, and  for  his  glory. 

"  When  I  look  upon  the  many  blessings  herein 
recorded  during  the  year,  I  am  filled  with  wonder 
and  praise.  I  must  si?ig  of  mercy  as  tvell  as  of  judg- 
ment. And  now,  O  Lord,  on  this  day  I  give  myself 
entirely  to  thee,  to  do  with  me  as  seemeth  good  in 
thy*  sight ;  only  enable  me  to  say  at  all  times,  and 
under  all  circumstances,  Thy  will  he  done.  O  that 
Christ  Jesus  may  be  manifested  in  me,  whether  it 
be  by  life  or  death;  and  let  me  have  this  evidence 
that  my  path  is  that  of  the  just,  that  it  *  shineth 
brighter  and  brighter  unto  the  perfect  day.'  " 

"  October  15.  This  day  I  have  not  such  elevated 
comforts  as  I  enjoyed  three  days  since ;  for  then, 
in  consideration  of  what  the  Lord  was  doing  for 
me,  I  could  only  wonder  and  adore.  But  thanks  be 
to  God  that  I  still  joy  in  the  Lord,  my  trust  and 
my  salvation.  I  know  that  it  is  only  by  humbly 
waiting  upon  thee  that  I  shall  obtain  blessings; 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  103 

therefore  my  waiting  eyes  are  unto  thee ;  for  giv- 
ing doth  not  impoverish,  withholding  doth  not  en- 
rich thee,  and  thou  art  ever  ready  to  communicate 
unto  such  as  are  of  a  broken  heart  and  a  contrite 
spirit.  My  heart  aspires  after  more  holiness,  greater 
conformity  to  thine  image.  If  I  am  indeed  a  branch 
of  the  true  vine,  wilt  thou  purge  my  heart,  that  1 
may  f  bring  forth  more  fruit;'  and  '  as  the  branch 
cannot  bring  forth  fruit  of  itself,  except  it  abide  in 
the  vine,'  O  that  I  may  abide  in  thee,  and  thou  in 
me,  that  I  may  '  bring  forth  much  fruit.'  O  that  I 
may  keep  thy  commandments  and  abide  in  thy  love, 
that  my  joy  may  be  full." 

"  October  18.  God  and  his  salvation  have  be- 
come a  theme  of  the  most  delightful  contemplation. 
The  hope  that  I  have  been  washed  in  the  blood  of 
atonement — that  my  feet  have  been  plucked  from 
'  the  horrible  pit  and  the  miry  clay,'  and  set  upon 
the  Rock  Christ  Jesus,  against  which  the  gates  of 
hell  shall  never  prevail ;  and  the  fact  that  I  am  now 
permitted  to  drink  so  freely  of  the  cup  of  salvation, 
are  causes  of  perpetual  joy  and  thanksgiving. 

1  Perpetual  blessings  from  above, 
1  Demand  perpetual  songs  of  praise.' 

"  For  ever  blessed  be  thy  name,  O  most  gracious 
God,  that  thy  Spirit  has  excited  in  my  heart  such 
fervor  of  love  to  thee ;  for  surely,  if  ever  I  knew 
what  hunger  is,  I  do  hunger  after  righteousness — af- 


104  MEMOIR   OF 

ter  greater  conformity  to  thy  blessed  will.  If  ever 
I  knew  what  it  is  to  thirsty  I  do  thirst  for  God,  for 
the  living  God,  and  pant  for  the  more  abundant 
communications  of  his  favor;  if  J  ever  desired  rest 
and  refreshment  for  this  body,  my  soul,  with  sweet 
acquiescence  in  thy  will,  rests,  dear  Savior,  upon 
thy  bosom,  and  returns  to  its  repose  in  the  em- 
braces of  God,  who  hath  dealt  so  bountifully  with 
me." 

"  Oct.  19. — In  contrasting  my  present  happiness 
with  all  that  the  world  ever  offered,  I  cannot  find 
words  to  express  how  poor,  and  mean,  and  despi- 
cable all  earthly  gratifications  appear  to  me,  when 
compared  with  this  joy  and  peace  which  now  fill 
my  soul. 

'God  is  my  all-sufficient  good, 

*  My  portion,  and  my  choice  ; 
1  In  him  my  vast  desires  are  fill'd, 

1  And  all  my  powers  rejoice. 

1  In  vain  the  world  accosts  mine  ear, 

1  And  tempts  my  heart  anew ; 
'  I  cannot  buy  your  bliss  so  dear, 

c  Nor  part  with  heaven  for  you.' 

"  When  I  look  back  upon  all  the  way  in  which 
the  Lord  has  led  me,  it  is  with  gratitude  that  I  ac- 
knowledge the  blessing  of  this  long  bodily  affliction, 
as  the  means  he  has  appointed  to  bring  me  to  a 
knowledge  of  himself.  Although  the  way  has  been 
peculiarly  trying  to  my  sinful  nature,  yet  the  more 


HANNAH    HODBIE.  105 

I  reflect  upon  it,  the  more  I  adore  him  who  has 
done  it. 

"  I  consider  it  a  special  mercy,  that  external  ob- 
jects are  in  a  great  measure  shut  out  from  me,  so 
that  I  may  enjoy  more  entirely  spiritual  things. 
How  different  my  situation  from  that  of  those  who 
have  not  God  for  their  Friend  !  O  how  do  I  pity 
those  who  have  no  comfort  but  such  as  this  world 
affords !  How  should  I  love  God  for  giving  me 
grace  to  cheer  and  support  me  under  his  chasten- 
ing hand !  Surely  nothing  but  the  grace  of  God 
could  enable  me  to  endure  so  long  without  com- 
plaint. For  several  months  I  have  not  felt  the 
smallest  disposition  to  complain — the  least  rising 
of  any  thing  like  impatience.  *  Bless  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul,  and  let  all  that  is  within  me  bless  his 
holy  name.'" 

M  Oct.  20.  Feeling  myself  inclined  this  day  to 
wander  from  the  object  of  my  love — from  the 
source  of  my  inexpressible  joy,  I  have  found  occa- 
sion to  be  more  earnest  in  prayer,  and  frequent- 
ly raise  my  heart  to  God  for  the  continuance  of  his 
favor.  O  that  I  may  continue  to  delight  myself  in 
the  Lord,  then  will  he  give  me  the  desires  of  my 
heart.  M«^  I  commit  my  way  more  entirely  to  him, 
and  trust  also  in  him,  that  he  may  bring  to  pas9 
what  I  pant  after;  that  he  may  '  bring  forth  my 
righteousness  as  the  light,  and  my  judgment  as  the 
noon-day/ 


106  MEMOIR   OP 

"  Lord,  thou  hast  said  that  thou  wilt  '  withhold  no 
good  from  him  that  walketh  uprightly/  O  '  put  away 
iniquity  far  from  me/  that  thou  mayest  continue 
thy  loving-kindness  towards  me ;  and  glorify  thy- 
self in  me  yet  more  abundantly,  through  the  riches 
of  thy  grace." 

"  Oct.  22.  I  still  enjoy  the  light  of  God's  coun- 
tenance and  the  consolations  of  his  Spirit,  which 
are  neither  few  nor  small.  Unto  thy  name,  O  Lord, 
be  all  the  glory,  for  thou  art  my  strength  and  song, 
and  thou  art  become  my  salvation.  Unveil,  I  be- 
seech thee,  the  beauties  of  thy  character  to  me  yet 
more  and  more,  that  I  may  see  thy  glory  as  it  is 
manifested  in  thy  works  of  creation,  of  providence, 
and  redemption.' } 

"  Oct.  29. —  The  Bible  has  become  my  chief  study . 
It  is  a  delightful  employment.  I  read  it  with  in- 
creased interest.  The  more  I  read  it,  the  more  I 
love  it.  Alas!  how  little  knowledge  I  obtained  of 
the  Scriptures  before  I  sought  the  illumination  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  in  reading  them  !  I  am  persuaded, 
that,  as  the  Scriptures  were  inspired  at  first  by  the 
Spirit,  they  owe  all  their  influence  and  effect  to  the 
Spirit's  co-operation.  Not  long  since  I  was  made 
particularly  sensible  of  my  ignorance  of  the  Scrip* 
tures,  and  felt  reproved  for  my  formerinattention 
to  them.  I  therefore  besought  the  Lord  more  ear- 
nestly to  instruct  me  and  enlighten  my  dark  mind,  de- 
siring him  to  teach  me  by  his  Spirit,  in  all  things,  the 


HANNAH    HOBBIH.  107 

meaning  of  his  word,  that  I  might  grow  in  know- 
ledge and  grace  together  more  and  more  ;  and 
surely  I  have  not  looked  in  vain  for  the  blessing. 
I  have  had  such  experience  of  the  truth  of  God's 
word,  that  I  can  fully  adopt  the  language  of  David, 
1  I  will  praise  thee  with  my  whole  heart ;  I  will 
praise  thee  for  thy  loving-kindness  and  thy  truth, 
for  thou  hast  magnified  thy  word  above  all  thy 
name.' 

,f  The  Psalms  of  David  I  find  peculiarly  adapted 
to  the  devotional  frame  of  my  mind.  Bless  the 
Lord,  O  my  soul,  who  has  given  me  to  delight  in 
his  holy  word!  *  The  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect, 
converting  the  soul.  The  testimony  of  the  Lord 
is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple  ;  the  statutes  of  the 
Lord  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart.' 

"  O  Lord,  give  me  faith  in  thy  word ;  what  I 
know  not  teach  thou  me.  I  will  hide  thy  word  in 
my  heart,  that  I  may  not  sin  against  thee.  O  let 
thy  word  be  '  a  light  unto  my  feet,  and  a  lamp  un- 
to my  path/  according  to  thy  gracious  promises, 
which  in  Jesus  Christ  are  •  yea  and  amen.'  " 

M  Oct.  31.  I  have  to  sing  this  day  of  a  great  de- 
liverance which  the  Lord,  in  his  goodness,  has 
wrought  for  me.  The  passing  scenes  around  me 
had,  in  a  great  measure,  diverted  my  mind  from 
spiritual  and  divine  things.  A  circumstance  (al- 
luding to  the  contemplated  marriage  of  a  sister) 
which  is  seldom  attended  with  much  seriousness,  is 


108  MEMOIR   OF 

about  to  take  place  in  the  family.  It  absorbed  my 
thoughts  too  much,  notwithstanding  my  constant 
endeavors  to  prevent  it.  Satan  laid  a  snare  for  my 
soul,  but  the  Lord  *  upheld  me  by  the  right  hand  of 
his  righteousness,'  and  has  restored  to  me  the  joy 
of  his  salvation.  O  thou  all-sufficient  Friend,  unto 
thee  do  I  look  for  grace  to  help  me  in  this  time  of 
need  !  Give  me  the  shield  of  faith,  by  which  I  shall 
be  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the  wicked  ; 
and  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  I  may  be  able 
to  stand  in  the  evil  day." 

n  Nov.  7.  Yesterday  I  in  some  measure  forgot 
my  Almighty  Helper,  and  satan  sought  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  my  soul,  through  the  weakness  of  my 
body ;  but  at  evening  I  received  strength  to  call 
upon  God,  and  t'hereby  obtained  grace  as  my  day 
demanded  it, 

"  This  afternoon  I  expect  a  visit  from  my  dear 
pastor  ;  and  in  the  evening,  the  Lord  willing,  I  shall 
again  hear  the  sweet  sound  of  the  Gospel  from  his 
lips.  The  Lord  seal  instruction  to  my  heart,  and  bless 
the  means  of  grace  which  I  enjoy,  to  my  soul.  Let 
me  not  be  a  forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer  of  the  word*. 
O  Lord,  make  thy  word  effectual  this  night  to  the 
conversion  of  souls," 

I  visited  her  that  day,  as  she  expected.  She  wel- 
comed me  with  unusual  joy,  but  she  was  evidently 
in  more  than  ordinary  pain.     There  was  a  mingling 


HANNAH    HOEBIE.  103 

of  serenity  and  agitation  in  every  feature  of  he* 
countenance,  which  denoted  the  struggle  within, 
and  proclaimed  the  present  crazy  tabernacle  to  be 
unsuitable  for  the  permanent  abode  of  a  spirit  as- 
piring after  eternal  life  and  peace.  Her  cheek  was 
flushed,  and  her  eye,  occasionally,  was  restless;  but 
peace  was  reigning  triumphantly,  notwithstanding 
the  fruitless  efforts  of  an  already  defeated  enemy. 
Her  state  of  mind  was  heavenly,  and  pain  of  body 
could  not  permanently  disturb  it. 

Having  ascertained  this,  I  felt  anxious,  as  far  as 
her  strength  would  allow,  to  know  whether  she 
could  look  upon  the  evidences  of  her  hope  stead- 
fastly, and  derive  satisfaction  from  inspecting  its 
foundations.  She  had  enjoyed  a  long  season  of 
spiritual  prosperity  ;  her  sky  was  all  cloudless  and 
serene,  while  a  fair  and  steady  breeze  was  wafting 
her  towards  the  haven  of  rest.  I  feared  that  she 
had  been  looking  aloft  so  long,  and  contemplating 
with  such  absorbing  delight  the  swelling  canvass 
under  which  she  was  pressing  onward,  that  she  had 
almost  forgotten  the  dangers  that  lay  in  her  course, 
and  remembered  not  that  she  was  yet  upon  a  treach- 
erous and  stormy  ocean.  I  seated  myself  at  her  bed- 
side, and  spent  a  short  time  in  testing  her  heart  by 
the  touchstone  of  eternal  truth.  The  interview  of 
that  day  comes  up,  even  now,  before  me  with  the 
freshness  of  the  scenes  of  yesterday.  She  stood  the 
trial  well. 

II.Hvbbie.  10 


110  MEMOIR    OP 

The  character  and  law  of  God,  his  government, 
his  will,  his  salvation,  his  Sabbath  and  ordinances  she 
loved;  Jesus  Christ  was  precious  to  her  soul ;  the 
Word  of  God  was  her  delight,  and  her  guide  in  all 
things ;  the  people  of  God  her  dearly  beloved  and 
chosen  companions,  and  sin  the  object  of  her  un- 
mingled  hatred.  She  relished  the  truth,  and  rejoic- 
ed that  God's  precious  promises  secured  its  future 
and  universal  triumph,  while  she  pitied  with  her 
whole  heart  the  miserable  and  perishing  condition 
of  a  benighted  world.  Without  prayer  she  could 
not  live ;  and,  weak  and  languid  as  she  was,  she 
was  devising  (as  will  presently  be  seen)  plans  to 
render  herself  more  extensively  useful  while  she 
remained  in  the  field  of  labor. 

I  felt  as  if  a  word  of  caution  was  nevertheless 
called  for,  and  this  settled  the  subject  for  the  even- 
ing's discourse.  Of  this  she  speaks  largely  :  the 
following  are  extracts  : 

"  Nov.  8.  The  text  last  evening  was  Mark,  13  : 
21,  What  I  say  unto  you,  I  say  unto  all,  watch, 
I  fear  I  have  been  too  unmindful  of  this  duty  ;  the 
Lord  grant  that  I  may  henceforth  be  more  diligent 
in  this  respect ;  and  may  the  solemn  admonitions, 
the  all-important  lessons  I  received,  make  an  abiding 
impression  on  my  mind  :  may  I  lay  up  the  word  in 
my  heart,  and  practice  it  in  my  life.  The  Lord 
bless  him  who  watches  here  for  souls,  and  make 


HANNAH    HOEBIE.  Ill 

him  faithful  over  his  charge  ;  O  strengthen  his 
lianas  and  encourage  his  heart,  and  return  into  his 
own  bosom  sevenfold  his  labors  of  love  amon^  us." 
"Nov.  10.  I  cannot  easily,  nor  would  I,  forget 
the  solemn  impressions  I  received  from  our  pastor 
the  other  evening,  while  in  his  sermon  he  exhorted 
christians  to  awake  to  their  duty,  and  try  to  do 
good  to  sinners  around  them,  and  proposed  to  our 
serious  consideration  the  inquiries  which  may  be 
made  of  us,  in  respect  to  the  discharge  of  this  duty, 
in  the  day.  of  judgment.  I  have  since  resolved,  in 
the  strength  of  the  Lord,  to  make  it  a  part  of  my 
great  business  so  to  discharge' my  duty  to  my  neigh- 
bors, whose  souls  I  ought  to  love  as  my  own,  that 
at  the  last  great  day  of  trial,  when  I  shall  be  judged 
according  to  my  works,  the  blood  of  souls  will  not 
be  required  at  my  hand.  Shall  I,  who  have  named 
the  name  of  Christ,  and  upon  whom  rest  the  most 
solemn  vows,  shall  I  slumber  while  the  broad  road 
that  leads  to  death  is  so  crowded  %  x  Deliver  my 
soul  from  blood-guiltiness,  O  God,  thou  God  of  my 
salvation/  " 

Nov.  16.  The  work  of  redemption  is  a  great 
mystery.  The  angels  desire  to  look  into  it ;  and  it 
is  often  to  me  a  subject  of  delightful  contemplation. 
But  who  can  comprehend  the  breadth,  and  length, 
and  depth,  and  height,  or  know  the  love  of  God  ? 
Praised  be  the  Lord's  name,  that  he  has  established 
bis  covenant  of  grace  with  men,  and  that  thousands 


112  MEMOIR   OF 

in  every  age  have  rejoiced  in  its  inestimable  bless- 
ings. To  him  be  glory  for  ever,  for  the  happy  as- 
surance that  he  has  made  with  me  c  an  everlasting 
covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure  ;'  for  this  is 
all  my  salvation,  and  all  my  desire.' ' 

ft  Nov.  25.  Notwithstanding  my  forgetfulness 
of  God,  my  ingratitude  and  remissness  in  duty, 
his  loving-kindness  is  still  manifested  towards  me. 
He  is  merciful  to  my  unrighteousness,  and  I  would 
acknowledge  his  goodness  with  humble  gratitude. 
When  my  foolish  heart  has  felt  disposed  to  leave 
him  and  fix  on  inferior  objects,  he  has  proved  to 
me  his  unwillingness  to  forsake  me.  For  several 
days  I  have  maintained  almost  a  continual  warfare 
with  my  soul's  enemies  ;  earth  has  sometimes  gain- 
ed a  share  of  my  affections,  when  at  other  times  it 
has  had  no  power  to  charm  me.  How,  O  my  soul, 
canst  thou  be  delighted  with  these  transitory  glo- 
ries when  in  pursuit  of  nobler  objects,  since  God 
is  the  object  of  thy  supreme  love,  and  all  thy  desires 
centre  in  him  1 

1  What  sinners  value  I  resign ; 

*  Lord,  'tis  enough  that  thou  art  mine.* 

"O  Heavenly  Father,  forbid  that  I  should  leave 
thee,  for  thou  art  the  fountain  of  life  whence  flow 
streams  of  inexpressible  delight.  Let  not  the 
passing  scenes  around  me  divert  my  mind  from 
spiritual  things ;    let  nothing   impede,  but  every 


HANNAH    HOBBIB.  113 

thing  further  my  progress  heaven-ward  ;  that  I  may 
grow  in  grace  until  I  am  perfect  in  glory." 

You  have  seen,  christian  reader,  the  love  of  God 
as  it  was  manifested  to  this  humble  but  distinguish- 
ed individual  :  now  pause  and  inquire,  Do  I  walk 
in  the  light  of  God's  countenance  day  by  day  %  Do 
I  enjoy  these  sweet,  and  animating,  and  refreshing 
views  of  his  love  ]  Does  the  Savior  manifest  him- 
self to  me  as  he  doth  not  unto  the  world  %  You  will 
perhaps  say,  she  was  highly  favored  ;  all  may  not 
look  for  such  seasons  of  unmingled  comfort  and 
assurance.  But  why  was  the  loving-kindness  of 
God  thus  manifested  to  her?  We  know  he  is  sove- 
reign in  bestowing  his  mercy  ;  but  she  sought  it 
earnestly  by  faith.  She  found  from  the  Bible  that 
God  did  hold  such  sweet  communion  with  his  chil- 
dren ;  and  she  took  hold  of  his  covenant  with  a 
firm  grasp — with  a  heart  panting  after  God — and 
with  the  words  of  the  patriarch  upon  her  lips,  I 
will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me.  She  wrest- 
led with  God,  and  prevailed.  All  that  she  enjoyed  is 
set  before  you.  All  these  tokens  of  the  Divine  favor, 
these  antepasts  of  heaven,  it  is,  in  the  strength  of 
divine  grace,  the  privilege  of  every  christian  to 
possess.  By  faith  and  prayer  you  too,  as  she  did, 
may  walk  in  the  light  greatly  comforted.  "  Light 
is  sown  for  the  righteous,  and  gladness  for  the  up- 
right in  heart. "  As  you  travel  onward  to  heaven, 
10* 


114  MEMOIR  or 

you  too  may  look  for  and  haste  unto  the  coming  of 
the  Son  of  man.  You  may  drink  deeply  at  the  same 
fountain  of  life  ;  you  may  rejoice  in  the  same  salva- 
tion ;  you  may  live  under  the  same  sunny  skies,  and 
breathe  the  same  refreshing  and  delightful  atmos- 
phere of  love.  O  that  we  may  be  followers  of 
those  who,  through  faith  and  patience,  have  become 
inheritors  of  the  promises  ! 


CHAPTER    VII. 


As  the  design  of  Miss  Hobbie  in  keeping  a  jour- 
nal was  chiefly  to  preserve  the  passing  exercises  of 
her  mind,  that  she  might  avail  herself  of  the  bene- 
fit of  frequently  reviewing  them,  she  was  not  in 
the  habit  of  recording  much  of  what  she  did  in  the 
service  of  God.  There  was  in  her  a  modesty  and 
diffidence  in  reference  to  this  point,  exceedingly  deli- 
cate, and  perhaps  too  sensitive.  I  discovered  this 
early,  and  found  it  a  uniform  trait  of  her  character ; 
not  knowing  then  that  she  kept  a  journal  at  all. 
By  her  silence  in  respect  to  her  efforts  to  be  useful, 
I  am  thrown  almost  entirely  upon  my  own  recol- 
lection, to  gather  up  the  fragments  of  her  active 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  115 

exertions  in  her  Master's  cause  ;  and  probably  but 
a  small  part  of  her  endeavors  for  the  good  of  others 
ever  came  to  my  knowledge.  But  I  have  treasured 
up  enough  to  shame  us  all,  who  have  more  strength 
to  labor,  and  better  opportunities  of  extensive  use- 
fulness by  mingling  with  society,  from  which  she 
was  in  a  great  measure  excluded.  For  the  greater 
part  of  her  time  she  was  confined  closely  to  her 
sick  bed,  weak,  emaciated,  and  often  agonizing 
under  severe  pain.  But  feeble  as  she  was,  she  did 
much  for  her  Master's  glory  ;  her  faith  was  exem- 
plified by  her  works.  If  the  clusters  of  fruit  can 
speak  for  her,  she  was  a  true  branch  of  the  living 
vine  ;  for  they  were  rich,  and  they  were  many.  In 
a  condition  where  few  would  have  thought  of  doing 
any  thing — where  the  distressing  anguish  that  wore 
away  her  strength  would  have  been  deemed  a  jus- 
tifiable exemption  from  active  exertion  in  the 
Lord's  vineyard,  her  burning  zeal  would  not  allow 
her  to  be  idle ;  she  studied  how  she  could  still  be 
useful  to  the  world  while  she  remained  in  it. 

She  exerted  her  influence  with  many,  both  chris- 
tians and  others,  in  personal  conversation,  as  they 
visited  her  chamber,  with  reference  to  their  souls' 
salvation ;  and  some,  I  trust,  will  meet  her  at  the 
judgment,  who  will  be  as  jewels  in  her  crown  of 
everlasting  glory  and  rejoicing.  More  than  fifty  let- 
ters were  written  from  her  sick  bed  to  different  in 
dividuals,  all  of  them  breathing  the  same  refresh- 


116  MEMOIR   OF 

ing  spirit  of  evangelical  piety  and  'deep  concern  for 
souls. 

As  has  been  seen,  she  pitied  the  perishing  world, 
and  felt  called  upon  to  do  what  she  could  for  its 
rescue  from  the  dominion  of  sin  and  the  prison- 
house  of  eternal  despair.  She  exerted  herself  suc- 
cessfully with  her  female  christian  friends,  to  form  a 
benevolent  society  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  mis- 
sions ;  a  society  which,  as  her  records  show,  con- 
sisted of  eighty  members,  and  with  a  little  assist- 
ance from  the  congregation,  soon  made  their  pastor 
a  life-director  of  the  Missionary  Society  by  the  pay- 
ment of  one  hundred  dollars.  That  precious  band 
of  sisters,  as  I  have  learned,  are  yet  steadfastly  pur- 
suing their  object  and  abounding  in  labors  of  love. 

There  is  now  lying  before  me  an  address,  written 
by  her,  which  was  read  at  their  first  meeting,  and 
heard*  with  delight  and  profit.  One  thought  she  ex- 
presses should  speak  to  all  who  profess  attach- 
ment to  the  ordinances  of  God's  house  :  "  We  en- 
joy the  light  of  God's  word,  and  most  of  us  the  con- 
stant preaching  of  the  Gospel.  We  have,  richly,  all 
the  means  of  grace  necessary  for  our  salvation  and 
the  present  comfort  of  our  souls ;  and  may  not  our 
estimate  of  them  be  measured  by  the  pains  we  take, 
and  the  sacrifices  we  make  to  communicate  them  to 
others  ?"  The  same  spirit  of  active  benevolence 
will  appear,  from  time  to  time,  in  all  her  remain- 
ing history. 


HANNAH    HOBBIB.  117 

It  will  also  be  seen,  that  the  Lord,  in  infinite 
wisdom,  saw  fit  now  to  withdraw,  in  some  measure, 
the  rich  consolation  which  for  a  long  time  she  had 
almost  uninterruptedly  enjoyed.  She  was  not  yet 
to  be  taken  from  the  world,  and  under  this  disci- 
pline gained  a  knowledge  of  her  own  heart  and  of 
duty,  which  perhaps  she  would  not  have  obtained 
had  the  light  of  God's  countenance  still  been  lifted 
upon  her  in  such  unclouded  splendor. 

Under  date  of  December  2d,  she  thus  complains 
of  her  insensibility  : 

"  I  dare  not  say  that  the  God  of  mercies  has,  in 
a  great  degree,  withholden  his  blessing,  but  rather 
acknowledge  my  dreadful  insensibility,  at  which  I 
have  often  been  deeply  astonished.  O  when  shall  I 
awake  from  this  death-like  stupidity  V9 

"  December  6.  O  to  know  my  own  heart!  O 
that  I  were  more  sensible  of  my  exceeding  depra- 
vity !  O  the  pride  of  my  heart !  Put  away,  Lord,  I 
beseech  thee,  the  pride  of  my  heart;  that  thou 
mayest  receive  all  the  glory  for  the  great  things 
which  thou  hast  done  for  me.  Take  off  from  me 
the  filthy  rags  of  my  own  righteousness,  that,  being 
entirely  naked,  I  may  be  clothed  with  the  righteous- 
ness of  Christ.  May  I  walk  softly  in  the  valley  of 
humility  all  the  days  of  my  life.  O  for  more  fervent 
love  to  God,  deep  humility,  and  strong  faith." 

At  this  time  the  Lord  in  mercy  granted  a  gentle 


118  MEMOIR   OP 

season  of  refreshing  from  his  presence  to  a  single 
and  distant  section  of  the  congregation;  and  it 
greatly  rejoiced  her  heart.  From  the  commence- 
ment of  our  meetings  in  that  neighborhood  she  had 
been  unusually  anxious  that  God  should  grant  his 
blessing,  as  it  was  a  place  of  peculiar  desolation ; 
and  I  always  attributed  much  of  the  success  which 
attended  our  efforts  to  the  fact,  that  she  and  others 
were  helping  together  in  their  prayers  for  us.  She 
thus  speaks  of  it : 

"  December  7.  Joyful  news  !  The  Lord  is  pour- 
ing out  his  Spirit  and  reviving  his  work  in  a  part 
of  our  society.  Some  are  already  rejoicing  in  hope, 
while  others  are  crying  for  mercy. 

tl  When  I  think  of  my  former  danger,  how  can  I 
slumber  while  thousands  are  yet  exposed  as  I  was  ? 
The  Lord  has  heard  my  humble  prayer  for  myself, 
and,  glory  be  to  his  name,  I  have  seen,  I  think,  in 
some  measure,  my  desires  upon  others.  O  for  the 
fulfillment  of  them  yet  more  and  more  !  O  that  the 
Lord  would  revive  his  work  in  the  hearts  of  his 
children,  especially  those  of  this  church,  and  pour 
out  upon  us  a  spirit  of  prayer  for  the  conversion  of 
sinners  and  the  enlargement  of  Zion  !  O  Lord., 
visit  us  again  with  thy  Spirit ;  have  mercy  on  pre- 
cious souls ;  carry  on  thy  good  work  of  grace  in  the 
neighborhood  where  thou  hast  begun  it ;  and  may 
that  place,  which  has  long  been  a  seat  of  the  most 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  119 

profane  wiokedness,  soon  become  a  habitation  of 
holiness,  and  a  dwelling  for  our  God." 

Such  was  the  character  of  her  letters,  that  the 
pastors  of  the  churches  to  which  her  friends  be- 
longed, in  some  instances  solicited  a  copy  for  pub- 
\ication.  Several  letters  thus  found  their  way  into 
the  religious  periodicals  of  the  day,  which  greatly 
surprised  and  affected  her.  Of  this  she  thus  speaks  : 

M  December  12.  I  have  been  informed  that  some 
of  my  late  letters  to  my  friends  have  been  published. 
Can  it  be  that  there  is  any  thing  in  them  that  is 
worthy  of  public  notice  ?  It  may  be  ;  for  as  the  dia- 
mond, though  unpolished,  possesses  intrinsic  worth, 
so  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  ever  excellent,  will  be 
relished  by  true  christians,  even  from  the  pen  of 
the  most  unlettered  individual.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  who  has  made  me  to  know  and  understand 
that  he  is  God,  and  besides  him  there  is  no  Savior ; 
and  has  influenced  me  to  declare  his  mercy,  good- 
ness, and  truth.  Shouldst  thou,  O  Lord,  make  me, 
in  anywise,  serviceable  to  others,  unto  thy  name  be 
all  the  glory.  Blessed  be  thy  glorious  name  for 
ever  and  ever,  that  thou  hast  manifested  the  riches 
of  thy  grace  to  such  a  poor,  unworthy  sinner !  O 
what  distinguished  mercy !" 

M  December  14.  Have  just  been  reading  of  an 
eminent  christian,  though  he  was  a  plain  uneduca- 


120  MEMOIR   OF 

ted  man,  and  moved  in  the  humble  walks  of  life* 
Most  works  of  a  biographical  character  place  before 
us  the  lives  of  persons  eminent  for  their  station  and 
talents,  as  well  as  piety  ;  which  is  calculated  to  pro- 
duce an  impression  upon  many  minds,  that  such 
excellence  is  not  to  be  aimed  at,  except  by  those 
who,  in  the  providence  of  God,  possess  similar  ad* 
vantages.  But  if  we  do  not  aim  high,  we  cannot 
reach  spiritual  eminence.  God  requires  perfection, 
nor  can  he,  consistently,  require  less.  So  then  I 
will  aim  to  be  perfect,  as  my  Father  in  heaven  is 
perfect.  I  will  r  press  forward  toward  the  mark  for 
the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.' ' 

Here  is  the  secret  of  her  distinguished  piety. 
She  fixed  for  herself  a  high  standard,  and  steadily 
pursued  the  great  object  at  which  she  aimed.  She 
was  weak  and  languid  in  body — the  reader  per- 
haps enjoys  health  and  vigor.  Use  them  then  for 
God ;  employ  them  steadfastly  for  the  same  ends  ; 
and  through  divine  grace  you  will  be  successful. 

n  December  19.  Time  flies  swiftly,  and  the 
question  arises  in  my  mind,  What  am  I  doing  for 
God?  My  guilty  conscience  is  forced  to  make  the 
painful  reply,  Nothing  /  For  several  days  I  have 
been  sorely  grieved  with  a  view  of  the  sins  of 
others,  besides  being  greatly  burdened  with  a  sense 
of  my  own.    I  am  astonished  at  the  iniquity  that 


HAfcN'AIt   BOfifite.  121 

abounds.  Alas  !  my  wicked  heart  also,  what  a  foun- 
tain of  corruption  !  A  retrospect  of  the  past  fills  me 
with  surprise  and  grief.  I  have  to  mourn  over  a 
carnal  mind,  a  rebellious  will,  and  an  unprofitable 
life.  O  that  the  Lord  would  giant  me  true  re- 
pentance !  O  that  a  sense  of  the  exceeding  sinful- 
ness of  sin  might  lead  me  to  forsake  it !  O  that  I 
could  abhor  it ;  and  that  myself  and  others  might 
repent  of  provoking  sins,  and  walk  humbly  before 
God  all  the  days  of  our  lives/ ' 

te  December  20.  O  that  I  were  more  sensible  of 
the  purity  of  the  divine  law  and  the  preciousness 
of  Christ ;  that  I  could  feel  more  sensibly  the  in* 
sufficiency  of  my  own  righteousness,  and  humbly 
and  implicitly  rely  on  the  merits  of  Christ  for  jus- 
tification before  God !" 

M  December  24.    Last  evening  my  sister  T » 

was  united  in  marriage  to  Mr.  E W — «*-i.  Let 

their  union  be  long  and  happy.  O  that  both  may 
embrace  thankfully  the  great  salvation  ;  remember 
their  Creator  in  the  days  of  their  youth ;  and  be 
instrumental  of  building  up  the  kingdom  of  Christ 
greatly  !  May  they  assist  each  other  in  preparing 
for  glory,  and  at  last  be  received  into  heaven, 
where  they  '  neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  mar- 
riage.' M 

M  December  25*  This  is  said  to  be  the  day  on 
which  the  glad  tidings  were  brought  by  the  angel 
of  the  Lord  to  a  perishing  world,  eighteen  hundred 

II-  liobbie.  .  11 


122  MEMOIR   OF 

and  twenty-eight  years  ago:  'Behold,  I  bring  you 
glad  tidings  of  great  joy,  which  shall  be  to  all  peo- 
ple ;  for  to  you  is  born,  this  day,  in  the  city  of  Da- 
vid, a  Savior,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord.'  Well 
might  the  angels  sing,  •  Glory  to  God  in  the  high- 
est, and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men/ 
Well  may  the  church  break  out  into  loud  songs  of 
praise.  O  what  stupendous  love  !  O  that  this  ex- 
hibition of  love  might  warm  my  cold  and  languid 
affections  !" 

"  December  27.    Saturday  evening. 

{ Safely  through  another  week 
c  God  has  brought  me  on  my  way; 

'May  I  now  a  blessing  seek 

1  On  th'  approaching  Sabbath  day ; 

1  Day  of  all  the  week  the  best, 

c  Emblem  of  eternal  rest.'  " 

"  December  28.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
through  whose  goodness  thou  art  permitted  to  be- 
hold the  return  of  another  Sabbath,  under  circum- 
stances of  so  much  mercy.  I  feel  myself  under 
unspeakable  obligation  to  devote  myself,  my  all, 
my  life  to  his  service ;  but  I  feel  myself  an  unpro- 
fitable servant ;  I  fear  I  am  a  cumberer  of  the 
ground.  O  for  the  quickening  influences  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  put  new  life  into  every  duty  ;  and 
more  especially  at  this  time,  when  I  am  sensible  of 
so  much  coldness  and  formality.  To-day  my  father 
is  to  be  set  apart  as  an  officer  in  the  church.    The 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  123 

Lord  grant  that  he  may  be  duly  qualified,  and  ful- 
fill the  duties  of  his  station  in  the  fear  of  God.  O 
that  the  Lord  would  be  pleased  to  bless  this  church, 
and  enlarge  the  borders  of  Zion !  O  that  he  would 
lengthen  her  cords,  and  strengthen  her  stakes. 
Bless,  O  Lord,  all  thy  churches  ;  '  let  thy  kingdom 
come,  and  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven/  I  long  to  have  the  millennial  glory  come, 
when  all  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  thy  praise  I" 

M  January  1,  1S29.  Another  year  of  my  life's 
short  pilgrimage  is  gone.  What  vast  numbers  du- 
ring the  year  have  closed  their  mortal  existence, 
and  gone  to  try  the  realities  of  eternity,  while  I 
am  spared  to  see  the  beginning  of  another  year. 
For  what  do  I  live  ?  a  poor,  vile,  unprofitable  crea- 
ture !  I  am  sick  of  sin  ;  I  am  tired  of  this  lassi- 
tude ! 

"  Deeply  impressed  with  a  sense  of  my  innumer- 
able sins,  my  utter  nothingness  and  unworthiness, 
I  am  constrained  to  make  renewed  application  to 
the  blood  of  Christ  which  '  cleanseth  from  all  sin,' 
that  I  may  be  prepared  to  stand  before  the  throne 
of  God.  I  would  let  the  time  past  suffice  for  sin- 
ning; I  would  now  resolve,  in  the  Lord's  strength, 
to  break  off  sin  by  righteousness.  O  that  I  may  no 
longer  be  engrossed  with  my  little  self,  but  seek 
alone  my  Master's  glory  1  may  I  live  for  God,  and 
act  for  eternity. 

M  I  desire  to  live  as  '  a  stranger  and  a  pilgrim* 


124  MEMOIR  OP 

below,  that '  when  my  earthly  house  of  this  taber- 
nacle shall  be  dissolved,  I  may  have  a  building  of 
God,  an  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.' " 

"  January  4.  Sabbath.  O  that  I  could  go  up  to 
the  house  of  God  with  the  multitude  who  keep  holy 
day  !  O  that  I  could  meet  with  them  to-day  around 
the  table  of  the  Lord,  to  commemorate  a  Savior's 
dying  love  !  but  a  good  and  gracious  God  has  de- 
termined it  otherwise  with  me,  and  it  is  well.  I 
rejoice  that  the  Lord  is  making  accessions  from 
time  to  time  to  his  people  here.  O  may  those  who 
this  day  in  his  courts,  before  God  and  men,  enter 
into  a  solemn  covenant  to  consecrate  their  lives  to 
his  service,  consider  what  the  solemn  vow  binds 
them  to  do,  and  keep  that  vow  for  ever !  O  may 
they  never  bring  reproach  upon  the  religion  of  the 
cross,  but  manifest  its  power  before  all,  and  be 
blessings  to  the  church  and  to  the  world !" 

I  soon  again  visited  her.  It  was  near  the  close 
of  the  day,  in  the  dead  of  winter.  All  around  me 
as  I  passed  along,  was  locked  in  his  cold  embrace. 
As  I  emerged  from  the  narrow  defile  where  the 
church  stood,  and  turned  to  the  eastward  between 
it  and  the  grave-yard,  the  latter  attracted  my  atten- 
tion, and  spoke  to  my  heart.  All  within  its  enclo- 
sure looked  more  cold  and  desolate  than  ever. 
There  stood  the  monuments  of  the  departed,  some 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  125 

of  them  weather-beaten  by  the  storms  of  many 
years,  while  others,  more  recently  erected,  contrast- 
ed feebly  with  the  snow,  almost  as  white  and  pure 
as  itself. 

I  had  stood  by  many  of  those  graves  and  seen 
them  closed  over  the  blasted  hopes  of  the  mourner. 
There  I  had  seen  the  tears  of  affectionate  sisters 
falling   fast   and   freely   upon   a   brother's   coffin. 

There  I  had  witnessed  the  sisrhs  of  those  who  were 

o 

left  childless,  and  the  agony  which  wrung  their 
bosoms  as  they  thought  of  the  desolation  that  would 
meet  them  in  the  home  of  their  former  joys,  when 
they  should  return  to  see  the  little  empty  chair, 
and  sit  down  to  weep  together  in  their  loneliness, 
and  there  I  had  sympathized  with  the  bitter  sor- 
rows of  widowhood  and  orphanage.  All  was  still 
in  this  empire  of  corruption.  The  silence  of  the 
death-sleep  was  there.  Plans,  and  purposes,  and 
toils,  and  cares,  all  were  ended  ;  and  those  whose 
flesh  rested  in  hope  of  a  blessed  resurrection,  were 
waiting  the  summons  of  the  last  trumpet,  to  call 
them,  in  a  glorified  body,  to  their  home  in  heaven. 
Thoughts  of  eternal  scenes  occupied  my  mind 
as  I  proceeded  ;  the  subduing  admonitory  influence 
of  death  and  the  judgment  was  upon  me,  and  for 
a  moment  the  veil  seemed  lifted,  that  I  might  look 
in  upon  another  world,  and  call  up  before  me  the 
solemn  realities  which  will  one  day  displace  the 
expectations  of  deluded  man. 
11* 


126  MEMOIR   OF 

The  noisy  crows  were  hurrying  to  and  fro,  clam- 
orous for  their  evening  repast,  before  retiring  to 
their  nightly  resting-place.  The  full  clear  whistle 
of  the  quail  was  heard  from  the  neighboring  stack 
yard.  The  little  snow-birds,  braving  the  storms  of 
winter  without  anxiety  or  distrust,  were  picking  up 
their  scanty  pittance  from  the  pathway  before  me. 
The  patient  sheep,  closely  huddled  into  a  living 
mass,  were  quietly  waiting  in  the  fold  their  expect- 
ed supplies,  and  the  ox  was  lowing  for  his  fodder. 
By  all  I  was  instructed.  I  was  reminded  of  the 
restlessness  of  man  in  pursuit  of  the  things  that 
perish  !  of  the  care  of  God  for  the  sparrow,  much 
more  for  the  children  of  his  love — of  the  spirit  of 
the  little  flock  to  whom  the  kingdom  is  promised, 
and  to  whom  it  will  be  given,  though  they  may  wait 
long,  and  lift  the  eye  of  faith  in  meek  submission, 
under  severe  and  trying  seasons  of  denial.  "  The 
ox  knoweth  his  owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's 
crib."  O  that  Israel  would  know !  O  that  men 
would  consider  !  Why  should  we  give  Jehovah  oc- 
casion to  testify  against  us,  and  to  call  upon  the 
heavens  and  the  earth  to  witness,  with  horrible  as- 
tonishment, "  I  have  nourished  and  brought  up  chil- 
dren, but  they  have  rebelled  against  me  !" 

Indulging  such  reflections,  I  found  myself  at 
length  at  the  residence  of  this  meek  sufferer.  She 
was  unusually  tried  with  the  deceitfulness  of  her 
heart.     Sin  was  dreadful  in  her  view ;  and  she  fear- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  127 

ed,  notwithstanding  her  hope  continued  as  an  an- 
chor to  the  soul,  that  this  terrible  enemy  might  yet 
ruin  her.  She  was  greatly  agitated  in  the  conflict 
which  she  was  vigorously  maintaining.  It  seemed 
to  me,  as  I  listened  to  her  bitter  complaints  of  her- 
self, and  her  ascriptions  of  righteousness  to  God, 
that  her  anchor  was  indeed  cast  within  the  veil,  but 
the  billows  of  a  furious  tempest  threatened  to  over- 
whelm her  :  I  was  anxious  to  see  the  storm  abate, 
and  suggested  many  sources  of  comfort ;  but  all 
seemed  unavailing.    Presently  I  said  to  her, 

"  Do  you  remember  that  Jesus  Christ  is  a  Medi- 
ator between  God  and  you?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  she,  M  and  his  name  is  precious." 

M  Do  you  know,"  said  I,  u  what  offices  he  sustains 
as  a  Mediator  V* 

M  He  is  a  Prophet,  a  Priest,  and  a  King,"  said  she, 
looking  at  me,  apparently  in  wonder  at  the  question. 

H  Well,  let  us  look  at  him  a  little  as  a  Priest. 

This  office  consists  of  two  parts,  his  sacrifice  and 

intercession.    The  sacrifice  has  been  finished  once 

for  all  ;  but  he  has  not  yet  finished  his  intercession, 

has  he?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  Do  you  know  that '  if  any  man  sin,  we  have  an 
Advocate  with  the  Father,  who  ever  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  us  V  " 

M  That  is  true  ;  the  Bible  says  so ;"  (after  a  short 
pause,)  "  I  know  it  is  so." 


128  MEMOIR  OF 

"You  know  that  you  cannot  plead  your  own 
cause  with  God ;  but  here  is  an  Advocate  whom  the 
Father  alioays  hears  ;  and  when  Jesus  pleads  with 
his  Father  for  you,  he  will  he  heard;  remember,  too, 
that  as  an  Intercessor,  Jesus  sympathizes  with  his 
people  under  their  trials  ;  for  '  we  have  not  a  high 
priest  who  cannot  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities,  but  was,  in  all  points,  tempted  like 
as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.  It  behoved  him  to  be 
made  like  unto  his  brethren '  in  all  things,  that  he 
might  c  know  how  to  succor  them  that  are  tempt- 
ed/ Do  you  remember  the  dreadful  trials  through 
which  the  Savior  passed  V9 

"I  do,"  said  she,  and  her  voice  faltered. 

"  He  remembers  them  too,"  said  I,  M  and  will  he 
not  feel  for  a  poor  suffering  sinner,  struggling  in 
the  deep  waters  which  overwhelmed  his  own  soul?" 

Her  eye  kindled  as  I  was  speaking ;  a  rich  vein 
of  consolation  was  struck,  and  I  doubted  not  the 
waters  would  flow  freely.  Before  I  left  her  she 
seemed  more  calm,  though  there  still  remained  an 
abiding  dread  of  sin.  The  next  passage  in  her 
diary  is  as  follows : 

"Jan.  22.  Jesus,  how  precious  thy  name!  Heavy- 
laden  with  sin  and  burdened  with  guilt,  I  find  relief 
in  the  thought  that  there  is  c  an  Advocate  with  the 
Father,  even  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous,  who  ever 
liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us,  and  is  able  to  savo 


HANNAH     HOBBI&  129 

unto  the  uttermost  all  that  come  unto  God  by  him.' 
To  me  belongeth  shame  and  confusion  of  face,  be- 
cause of  all  my  sins  and  follies  ;  but  how  consoling 
the  thought,  that  there  is  a  High  Priest  who  is 
'touched  with  the  feelings  of  our  infirmities/  Je- 
ms pleads  for  us  poor  sinners,  and  by  his  merits 
renders  us  acceptable.  I  love  him ;  I  accuse  my- 
self;  I  hate  this  carnal  mind.  In  view  of  my  sins, 
I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  as  in  dust  and  ashes.  O 
that  I  could  put  this  worthless  world  behind  me,  and 
live  as  becometh  an  heir  of  immortality  !" 

M  Jan.  29.  A  remark  in  the  Rev.  Legh  Rich- 
mond's diary  respecting  himself,  I  would  at  pre- 
sent adopt  as  appropriate  to  my  own  experience. 
1  Much  ado  about  nothing ;  and  little  done  about 
the  one  thing  needful.'  Every  day  brings  me  near- 
er to  eternity,  and  I  want  to  feel — sensibly  feel — that 
I  am  advancing  towards  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  I 
long  to  be  more  spiritual — more  heavenly-minded 
— less  conformed  to  the  world,  and  more  trans- 
formed by  the  renewing  of  my  mind,  that  I  may 
prove  what  is  that  acceptable,  that  good,  that  per- 
fect will  of  God." 

To  Miss  L H ,  a  neighbor,  a  member 

of  the  same  church,  and  also  a  very  intimate  friend 
and  fellow-sufferer,  she  wrote  the  following  letter: 

11  February  6,  1829. 
"My  dear  Friend, — Affliction   is   a  mark   by 


130  MEMOIR   OF 

which  a  gracious  God  oftentimes  distinguishes  his 
beloved  disciples.  I  feel  it  to  be  a  blessed  truth, 
that  the  Lord  chasteneth  those  whom  he  loveth.  I 
am  aware  that  where  grace  is,  trials  will  not  be 
wanting.  I  delight  to  trace  the  doings  of  divine 
mercy,  and  as  I  find  them  in  no  case  more  con- 
spicuous than  in  my  own,  I  gladly  tell  you  what 
God  has  done  for  me  since  I  last  wrote  you.  I  de- 
sire to  do  it  with  no  other  motive  than  to  extol  his 
abundant  grace,  and  magnify  his  great  and  holy 
name." 

Having  spoken  minutely  of  the  state  of  her 
health,  she  proceeds : 

"  Thus  you  see  I  still  linger  under  a  protracted 
illness,  but  when  I  compare  my  pains  with  my  mer- 
cies, they  are  but  as  a  drop  to  the  waters  of  the 
ocean.  The  precious  promises  of  the  Gospel  and 
the  smiles  of  my  heavenly  Father  abundantly 
sweeten  the  bitter  cup.. 

"  The  spring  was  to  me  rather  a  dark  and  gloomy 
season,  but  it  was  succeeded  by  a  gradual  increase 
of  light,  which  poured  in,  ray  after  ray,  upon  my 
dark  and  benighted  mind,  and  kept  continually  in- 
creasing, till  about  the  beginning  of  October,  when 
all  darkness  was  dispelled,  and  for  two  or  three 
weeks  especially,  my  beloved  friend,  it  is  beyond 
the  power  of  words  to  describe  the  happiness  and 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  131 

bless  uigs  I  enjoyed.  So  transporting  were  the  ex- 
ercises of  my  mind,  that  at  times  sleep  departed 
from  my  eyes.  The  glorious  perfections  of  God, 
the  infinite  loveliness  of  the  Savior,  the  great  plan 
of  salvation,  were  the  delightful  and  absorbing 
themes  which  occupied  my  mind.  The  thought 
that  the  God  of  heaven  should  condescend  to  visit 
in  such  a  glorious  manner  a  vile  and  worthless 
worm  like  me,  filled  me  with  wonder  and  admira- 
tion, and  occasioned  continual  joy  and  thanksgiv^ 
ing  for  many  days.  Like  Peter  on  the  mount  of 
transfiguration,  I  fain  would  have  tarried  ;  but  infi- 
nite wisdom  and  goodness  taught  me  that  I  must 
come  down  and  wander  again  in  this  wilderness, 
and  '  dwell  in  the  tents-  of  Kedar.' 

"  I  have  since  had  sore  conflicts  with  many  foes, 
and  have  been  conversant  with  grief,  painful  anx- 
iety, and  fearful  despondency,  concerning  myself 
and  others.  But  the  more  I  reflect  upon  the  way 
in  which  the  Lord  is  leading  me,  the  more  cause  I 
find  to  love  and  adore  him.  Often  I  think  of  these 
beautiful  lines,  and  exultingly  acknowledge  his 
sovereignty  over  me : 

c  Good  is  the  way  by  which  my  steps  he  leads  ; 
1  Sweet  is  the  pasture  where  my  spirit  feeds  ; 
1  Bright  are  my  prospects  in  the  world  to  come, 
'  And  a  few  steps  will  bear  me  safely  home.' 

H  Perhaps  what  I  have  said  of  the  joy  and  peace 


132  MEMom  or 

I  have  found  in  believing,  may  tend  to  dishearten 
you,  if  you  have  not  felt  the  same  ;  but  let  me  tell 
you,  my  dear  friend,  growth  in  grace  is  not  to  be 
measured  by  joys  or  raptures.  These  are  the  com*- 
forts  of  a  christian  faith  and  hope,  but  humility  and 
love  are  the  substantial  graces.  It  is,  nevertheless, 
desirable  to  rise  above  all  earthly  gratifications, 
all  transitory  glories,  and  from  Pisgah's  summit 
view  with  an  eye  of  faith,  though  afar  off,  the  pro* 
mised  land-^transcendently  glorious— -abounding 
with  satisfying  riches,  large  as  our  desires,  and 
lasting  as  our  souls. 

11  But  such  a  state  does  not  long  suit  an  earthly 
inhabitant.  Pride,  that  dreadful  pride>  would  soon 
ruin  us  in  so  high  a  place  ;  we  should  lose  sight  of 
our  helplessness,  and  forget  our  dependance  on 
God.  May  we  ever  live  in  obedience  to  the  com* 
mands  of  God,  make  his  law  our  delight,  and  strive 
to  be  wholly  conformed  to  his  will ;  may  we  ever 
have  a  deep  sense  of  our  vileness  and  un  worthiness, 
while  we  exalt  Christ  our  Savior  and  our  all. 

"  How  necessary  to  know  our  own  hearts  !  I  think 
my  dear  friend  is  by  no  means  a  stranger  to  hers,4 
I  very  much  regret  that  I  am  so  little  acquainted 
with  mine ;  but  the  little  knowledge  I  have  of  it, 
convinces  me  that  it  is  deceitful  above  all  things  a#d 
desperately  icicked.  So  deceitful,  that  it  is  folly  in 
Ihe  extreme  to  trust  it,  and  so  wicked,  that  sin 
stains  most  deeply  the  purest  actions  of  my  life.  But 


HANNAH    HOBBie.  133 

of  what  avail  is  a  knowledge  of  our  hearts,  unless 
we  apply  to  the  great  Physician  of  souls,  who  only 
can  cure  the  disease  of  sin,  and  wash  us  from  all  its 
pollutions  ]  I  think  I  do  feel  the  need  of  a  conti- 
nual application  to  him  for  the  blood  of  sprinkling. 
What  abundant  consolation  do  these  words  afford, 
The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  clcanseth  from  all  sin.  He 
is  exalted  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  remission 
of  sins. 

M  How  much  do  christians  lose  from  an  undue 
attachment  to  the  world.  I  know  it  is  alluring,  and 
Satan  is  busy  baiting  us  with  it,  to  draw  us  away 
from  the  one  thing  needful.  But  are  there  not  still 
greater  attractions  in  the  cross  of  Christ]  Over  all 
the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the 
pride  of  life — over  every  enemy,  the  Captain  of  our 
salvation,  if  we  follow  him,  will  cause  us  to  triumph, 
Even  Satan  shall  be  bruised  beneath  our  feet  short- 
ly. Let  his  people  follow  him,  and  lean  on  him,  and 
they  will  neither  be  barren  nor  unfruitful  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord. 

M  O  how  should  a  sense  of  the  shortness  of  time, 
the  unutterable  worth  of  the  soul,  and  the  solemni- 
ty of  eternity  awaken  us,  and  make  us  not  only 
anxious  for  the  salvation  of  our  own  souls,  but  also 
for  the  souls  of  the  precious  ones  around  us.  Alas  ! 
how  many  are  going  on  heedless  to  the  eternal 
world,  without  an  interest  in  the  Savior;  and  shall 
we  not  lift  the  warning  voice,  and  above  all,  plead 
H.Hobbio.  12     * 


134  MEMOIR   OP 

with  our  great  Advocate  in  their  behalf,  that  he  may 
be  glorified  in  their  salvation  ? 

"  Standing  as  I  do  upon  the  borders  of  the  eter- 
nal world,  I  wonder,  I  am  greatly  astonished,  that 
I  am  not  more  affected  with  eternal  realities.  With 
a  heart  glowing  with  supreme  love  to  God  and  com* 
passion  for  souls,  I  should  not  fail  to  recommend 
the  religion  of  Jesus  to  those  around  me— that  bless- 
ed religion  which  has  been  my  consolation  and  sup- 
port through  years  of  tribulation,  and  which  even 
now  enables  me  to  bid  defiance  to  all  the  powers  of 
earth  and  hell,  and  look  down  into  the  grave  with 
triumph.  I  am  too  remiss  in  duty,  and  vainly  en- 
deavor often  to  justify  my  negligence  by  many  a 
sinful  plea.  Will  not  my  dear  friend,  when  at  the 
throne  of  grace  pleading  for  poor  sinners,  some- 
times remember  her  unworthy  Hannah,  and  pray 
that  she  may  awake,  as  one  alive  from  the  dead— 
that  her  remaining  days  may  be  filled  up  with  use- 
fulness ;  and  may  the  best  of  heaven's  blessings  rest 
upon  my  dear  Lucretia. 

"  Farewell. 

11  Hannah  Hobbie*" 

11  February  1L     Have  just  been  favored  with  a 

visit  from  uncle  and  aunt  C ,  of  Bedford,  and 

two  dear  cousins.  How  dear  to  me  are  those  kin- 
dred friends  who  are  also  the  friends  of  Christ.  O 
that  all  my  friends  may  possess  that  good  part.  My 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  135 

dear  aunt  expressed  a  wish  that  I  might  be  able  to 
visit  Bedford.  I  immediately  replied,  that  I  did  not 
know  as  I  desired  it.  I  thought  I  had  rather  depart 
and  be  with  Christ,  which  is  far  better.  Still,  if  I 
could  be  of  any  use  to  my  friends  or  the  world,  I 
should  desire  to  be  restored  to  health.  But  I  am 
so  neglectful  of  duty  now,  that  if  I  should  be  re- 
stored I  should  probably  prove  unfaithful.  O  when 
shall  I  be  enabled  to  shake  off  this  spiritual  sloth  ] 
When  shall  I  do  my  duty  V 

"  February  23.  I  hope  God  has  pardoned  my 
sins,  and  given  me  peace — his  own  peace.  He  gives 
me  talents  and  time,  and  now  he  is  giving  me  un- 
usual relief  from  pain.  Under  all  these,  is  not  the 
command  addressed  to  me,  Occupy  till  I  come  ?  If 
I  have  but  one  tatent,  and  neglect  to  improve  it, 
shall  I  not  incur  guilt  and  the  just  reprehension  of 
my  God  and  Judge  ]  O  Lord,  thou  knowest  how 
painful  to  me  is  the  idea  of  lying  here  useless ;  let 
thy  Spirit  arouse  me  to  duty,  wake  up  my  drowsy 
powers,  and  enlarge  my  heart  greatly  in  the  know- 
ledge of  thy  will,  and  with  a  desire  to  do  it ;  then 
shall  I  run  with  joy  in  the  way  of  thy  command- 
ments. If  I  can  do  nothing  to  promote  thy  glory 
and  advance  thy  kingdom  here,  then  prepare  me 
for  thyself,  and  take  me  hence,  that  I  may  not  be  a 
reproach  among  thy  people.,, 

M  February  24.  The  sound  of  death  is  again  in 
my  ears.    Mr.  S W is  no  more.    He  has 


136  MEMOIR   OF 

left  family  and  friend,  and  gone  to  the  eternal 
world.  Death  is  a  faithful  monitor.  He  has  taken 
one  in  the  meridian  of  life,  and  surely  we  who  yet 
live,  are  admonished  to  be  ready,  for  in  such  an 
hour  as  we  think  not,  the  Son  of  man  cometh.  O 
that  all  might  be  excited  to  work  while  the  day 
lasts.  Be  thou  the  God  of  the  widow,  O  Lord,  and 
the  Father  of  the  fatherless." 

"  March  4.  There  is  one  talent  entrusted  to 
christians,  which  is  so  badly  employed,  or  rather  so 
seldom  employed  at  all,  that  it  ought  to  be  a  se- 
rious question  with  many,  how  they  can  escape  the 
doom  of  the  unfaithful  servant  who  went  and  bu- 
ried his  talent  in  the  earth.  It  is  the  talent  of  speak- 
ing for  God.  How  many  in  this  respect  prove  mi- 
serable stewards,  myself  among. the  number.  How 
seldom  do  I  speak  to  professing  christians  of  the 
state  of  religion  in  their  own  hearts — of  the  Savior's 
love — of  their  duty  to  sinners.  And  how  little  do  I 
speak  to  sinners  !  "Why  is  it  so  with  me  ]  I  account 
for  it  in  this  way  : 

"  1.  I  do  not  feel  sufficient  concern  for  souls. 

"2.  I  fear  man. 

"3.  I  fear  I  shall  do  them  no  good. 

u  Did  my  Savior  weep  over  sinners — did  he  feel 
so  much  concern  for  them  as  to  leave  the  realms  of 
bliss  and  come  down  to  die  for  their  salvation,  and 
shall  I  feel  no  concern  for  them  1 

V  Do  I  fear  man  ?    I  will  remember  what  God 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  137 

says :  e  Fear  ye  not  the  reproach  of  men,  neither  be 
ye  afraid  of  their  reviling*.  Who  art  thou,  that  thou 
shouldst  be  afraid  of  man  that  shall  die  V  God  for- 
bid thai  I  should  be  taken  in  this  snare  ! 

M  Will  it  be  of  no  avail  to  warn  the  wicked  ! 
How  shall  I  dare  indulge  such  a  thought  ?  God 
says,  A  word  fitly  spoken,  hoio  good  is  it.  The  word 
of  God,  even  by  my  mouth,  may  be  as  afire  and  a 
hammer  to  break  in  pieces  the  flinty  heart.  Shall  I 
shut  my  eyes  against  all  experience  and  observa- 
tion 1  How  often  has  a  word,  spoken  in  season,  been 
blest  to  the  conversion  of  a  soul  ]  Can  I  then  look 
upon  the  sinner  as  condemned,  and  know  that  par- 
don is  offered  to  him  through  Christ  Jesus,  and  not 
urge  him  to  accept  it  ] 

"  Much  have  I  suffered  from  the  lashes  of  con- 
science because  I  have  neglected  this  duty;  and 
yet  how  afraid  to  begin  to  perform  it.  I  have  long 
endeavored  to  surmount  these  difficulties  that  ap- 
pear to  lie  in  the  way  of  faithfulness  to  sinners  ;  and 

THROUGH    DIVINE    GRACE    I    AM  RESOLVED    TO    FIGHT 

until  I  overcome.  O  may  the  Lord  grant  me  that 
perfect  love  which  caste th  out  fear !" 

What  a  noble  resolution  !  what  a  holy  purpose  ! 
Here  is  a  poor,  sick,  suffering  female,  struggling  so 
manfully  against  hindrances  to  this  important  duty 
vijhile  many  in  health,  and  with  every  advantage 
and  opportunity,  are  regardless  of  their  obligation 
L2» 


135  MEMOIR    OF 

to  be  faithful  to  sinners.  It  must  not  be  inferred 
from  this  record  that  she  had  heretofore  done  no- 
thing in  this  part  of  her  work,  for  she  had  done 
much ;  but  she  had  not  done  enough  to  satisfy  her 
conscience  ;  she  felt  that  she  had  not  done  all  her 
duty.  Brother,  sister  in  Christ,  read  over  again  this 
last  record  from  her  pen,  and  go  and  do  likewise. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


About  the  beginning  of  March,  1829,  Miss  Hob- 
bie  was  visited  with  a  more  severe  attack,  which 
brought  her,  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  weeks, 
very  low.  It  seemed  to  me  for  some  time  that  she 
could  hardly  survive  it.  But  the  Lord  designed 
by  this  visitation  to  prepare  her  for  doing  his  will  a 
little  longer,  and  still  more  faithfully  upon  the  earth, 
before  he  should  call  her  away  from  it  for  ever.  He 
does  not  grieve  willingly- the  children  of  men  ;  he  af- 
flicts his  people  to  purify  their  souls  and  fit  them 
better  for  his  service  on  earth,  and  for  the  eternal 
enjoyments  of  the  better  world  on  high. 

There  is  something  very  touching  and  beautiful 
in  the  illustration  given  by  the  prophet  Malachi  (3  : 
3,)  of  the  process  by  which  Jehovah  purines  his 
people.     And  he  '  shall  sit  as  a  refiner  and  purifier 


HANNAH    HOBDIE.  139 

of  silver.'  The  Lord,  when  there  is  need  of  it,  puts 
bis  people  into  the  furnace  of  affliction,  and  kindles 
around  them,  as  the  refiner  of  silver  around  his  im- 
pure metal,  an  intense  heat.  As  the  refiner  keeps 
up  the  fire  until  the  dross  is  consumed  and  the  metal 
becomes  pure,  so  does  God  with  respect  to  his 
people.  The  refiner  sits,  looking  intently  into  the 
glowing  furnace  and  watching  the  contents  of  his 
crucible,  until  he  sees  in  the  molten  silver  the 
reflection  of  his  own  face,  and  by  this,  he  knows  it 
to  be  pure  ;  so,  when  the  Lord  afflicts  his  children, 
he  sits  intently  and  anxiously  watching  them  ;  and 
as  soon  as  he  sees  his  own  image  in  them,  the  end 
is  secured,  and  he  puts  out  the  fires  lest  they  should 
utterly  consume  them. 

When  God  sends  afflictions  upon  his  people  to 
purify  their  hearts,  and  bring  them  to  seek  their 
portion  in  him,  and  do  more  faithfully  his  will,  he 
may  have  also  other  things  in  view.  We  cannot 
fathom  the  depths  of  God's  providence,  or  explain 
its  mysteries  while  we  *  see  through  a  glass  darkly.' 
We  cannot  perhaps  fully  understand  why  he  often 
afflicts  his  beloved  people,  precious  to  him  as  the 
apple  of  his  eye,  while  he  allows  the  man  who  has 
lifted  the  standard  of  revolt  and  proclaims  war 
with  his  Maker,  to  live  in  health,  possessing  every 
earthly  blessing,  and  perhaps  to  go  down  to  the 
grave  with  no  bands  in  his  death.  But,  we  are 
taught  in  his   word  something  in   relation    to  thb 


140  MEMOIR   OP 

deeply  interesting  matter.  We  are  told  (whatever 
else  God,  in  infinite  wisdom,  may  think  proper  to 
conceal  from  us)  that  chastening  comes  with  adop- 
tion into  his  family ;  •  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he 
chasteneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  re- 
ceiveth.' 

There  are  benefits  flowing  from  this  heavenly  dis- 
cipline which  are  obvious ;  we  can  sec,  we  can  feel, 
we  can  appreciate  them.  They  vindicate  the  ways 
of  God  with  his  people.  Many  a  child  of  the  king- 
dom has  found  affliction  good ;  and  has  sent  up  from 
a  warmer  and  holier  heart  the  song  of  thanksgiv- 
ing and  praise  for  the  visitations  of  the  rod.  It  was 
so  with  Hannah  Hobbie.  Listen  to  her  own 
account. 

M  April  4,  1829.  Being  relieved  m  a  great  mea- 
sure from  a  state  of  unusual  suffering,  I  take  my 
pen  from  my  drawer  for  the  purpose  of  adding  to 
the  records  of  divine  mercy  and  favor.  The  Lord 
has  manifested  his  love  to  me  in  the  hours  of  deep 
distress,  when  this  poor  tabernacle  was  shaken  as 
with  a  mighty  wind.  When  my  spirits  were  low 
and  weak  the  Lord  graciously  vouchsafed  to  me 
spiritual  strength,  and  laid  underneath  me  his  ever- 
lasting arms.  I  have  been  brought  through  suffer- 
ing, and  revived  ;  and  O  that  I  could  say,  purified 
and  refined  entirely  from  sin  and  pollution.  I  thank 
thee^O  Heavenly  Father,  that  thou  dost  enable  me 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  141 

to  acquiesce  in  thy  will,  when  indeed  it  is  painful 
to  me.  Thou  knowest  the  discipline  I  need  ;  thou 
seest  the  *  folly  bound  up  in  the  heart'  of  thy  poor 
froward  child ;  and  thou  knowest  what  strokes  of 
the  rod  are  necessary  to  drive  it  out.  Knowing 
that  thou  dost  not  chastise  me  but  for  my  profit, 
may  I  ever  be  '  in  subjection  to  the  Father  of  spirits 
and  live.' 

"I  praise  thy  name,  O  Lord,  that  thou  wilt  have 
so  much  regard  for  me  as  to  apply  such  remedies 
as  these  to  my  spiritual  diseases.  Thou  art  kindly 
careful  to  train  me  up  for  glory.  I  beseech  thee, 
O  Lord,  sanctify  all  my  afflictions  so  that  they  may 
promote  my  communion  with  God,  and  my  ripe- 
ness and  meetness  for  heaven. " 

"  April  11.  Earthly  good  is  inadequate  to  fill 
my  soul ;  but  in  the  enjoyment  of  my  God  I  am 
happy.  The  allurements  of  the  world  do  not  en- 
snare  the  soul  which,  with  intense  interest,  pants 
after  God.  With  longing  desires  my  soul  thirsts 
after  God  and  heaven.  f  As  the  heart  panteth  after 
the  water-brooks,  so  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  O 
God/  O  give  me  to  drink  of  living  waters;  feed 
me  with  the  bread  of  heaven,  and  clothe  me  with 
the  righteousness  of  thy  dear  Son." 

"  April  17.  *  Sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing  :' 
continual  sorrow  because  of  the  exceeding  depra- 
vity of  my  heart,  its  native  aversion  to  God,  and 
inclination  to  do  evil ;  but  well  mavest  thou  ie- 


142  MEMOIR   OP 

joice,  O  my  soul,  for  God  hath  laid  help  upon  one 
who  is  mighty  to  save.  *  I  thank  God,  through  Je- 
sus Christ,  my  Lord/  I  have  been  made  free  from 
the  law  of  sin,  and  shall  be  made  free  from  the 
body  of  this  death." 

"  April  19.  Long  time  I  have  vainly  imagined 
that  I  should  one  day,  even  in  this  world,  see  my- 
self less  sinful ;  but  alas !  the  more  I  become  ac- 
quainted with  my  heart,  the  more  fully  I  am 
convinced  of  its  dreadful  sinfulness.  /  am  a  sinner ! 
great  is  the  number  and  magnitude  of  my  sins. 
But  I  will  comfort  myself  with  the  blessed  assu- 
rance that  though  I  am  a  great  sinner,  I  have  a 
gi-eat  Savior." 

Let  us  look  back  now  upon  the  last  three  para- 
graphs in  her  journal,  and  see  how  deep  were  the 
discoveries  of  truth  which  God  gave  her.  In  the 
first,  she  loathes  the  tasteless  morsel  which  earth  of- 
fers, and  longs  to  be  fed  with  the  bread  of  heaven  ; 
in  the  second,  she  sorrows  over  her  deep  depravi- 
ty, but  rejoices  in  the  mighty  deliverance ;  in  the 
third,  she  weeps  to  think  that  her  heart  is  in  itself 
no  better,  but  clings  with  all  her  might  to  the  pre- 
cious cross  of  Christ.    She  thus  proceeds  : 

<e  May  7.  This  morning  my  sister,  recently  mar- 
ried, set  out  with  her  husband  for  the  place  of  their 
abode  at  the  west,  nearly  three  hundred  miles  dis- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  143 

tant.  The  Lord  go  with  them,  tarry  with  them 
where  they  tarry,  and  be  their  joy  and  comfort 
throughout  the  days  of  their  pilgrimage. 

"  Little  did  I  know  before  what  it  was  to  part 
with  a  beloved  sister.  I  took  my  leave  of  her,  or 
rather,  gave  the  parting  hand,  for  I  was  for  the  mo- 
ment speechless.  O  may  the  Lord  sanctify  this 
trial  to  us  all.  May  we  learn  to  prize  the  blessings 
of  kindred  and  friendship,  and  strive  to  do  each 
other  all  the  good  we  can,  while  we  may  ;  and  when 
called  to  leave  this  world  of  sin  and  sorrow,  may 
we  meet  where  all  tears  will  be  wiped  away  from 
our  eyes;  where  adieus  and  farewells  are  not 
known." 

After  her  last  severe  attack,  it  was,  more  than 
ever,  her  practice  to  embrace  every  opportunity  to 
do  good,  for  she  saw  that  the  day  in  which  she 
could  do  good  below  was  drawing  to  a  close.  Having 
heard  that  four  of  her  female  cousins,  residing  at 
North-Castle,  had  recently  made  a  public  profes- 
sion of  religion,  she  thus  wrote  to  them  on  the  18th 
of  May  : 

"  I  have  for  a  long  time  desired  to  speak  to  you 
upon  the  subject  of  religion,  which,  I  trust,  is  deep- 
ly interesting  to  you  all ;  but  through  the  spring  1 
have  been  most  of  the  time  unable  to  write.  I  am 
at  present  more  comfortable,  and  therefoie  I  would 


Hi  MEMOIR    OF 

inquire,  my  dear  fellow  travelers  to  eternity,  hew 
do  you  find  your  way  through  this  troublesome 
world  ]  how  stand  your  hearts  affected  with  eter- 
nal things  ]  If  your  hearts  are  indeed  changed 
through  grace,  you  of  course  find  almost  every 
thing  here  unfriendly  to  the  pursuit  of  heavenly 
things.  Satan,  the  world  with  its  thousand  allure- 
ments, your  own  evil  hearts  of  unbelief,  all  oppose 
your  progress.  To  fight  against  all  these,  even 
through  grace,  requires  the  exertion  of  every  facul- 
ty— all  your  resolution.  But  through  grace,  when 
the  soul  is  intensely  set  upon  serving  God,  you  can 
do  it  all.  Happy  they,  who  are  enabled  with  steady 
resolution,  to  maintain  the  conflict;  the  victory  will 
be  theirs.  Here  you  are  in  an  enemy's  land,  but 
the  Lord,  your  help,  can  carry  you  safely  through. 

"  My  dear  friends,  are  you  rejoicing  in  the  hope 
of  a  blessed  immortality  ]  Is  that  hope  founded  on 
the  rock  Christ  Jesus  ]  Can  you  look  upon  death 
with  composure,  and  contemplate  the  glorious- 
change  which  it  brings  with  joy  ]  Is  your  con- 
science void  of  offence  %  Are  you  prepared  to 
stand  before  the  Judge  of  all  1  O  let  us  examine 
ourselves,  and  see  that  we  stand  complete  in  the 
Savior's  righteousness,  which  shall  protect  us  in 
that  day  from  the  storms  that  will  fall  upon  the 
wicked. 

"  Have  we,  my  friends,  seen  the  evil  of  our  hearts  1 
Have  we  felt  the  plague  of  our  hearts  I    Have  we* 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  145 

in  view  of  this,  cast  ourselves  wholly  upon  Christ  % 
Is  Christ  precious  to  our  souls  ]  Do  we  count  all 
things  but  loss,  in  comparison  to  the  excellency  of 
the  knowledge  of  him  ]  If  this  be  so,  we  may  in- 
deed rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  joy  in  the  God  of  our 
salvation." 

The  practical  character  of  her  piety  will  be  seen 
in  the  following  selection  from  her  journal : 

"  May  28.  I  view  this  to  be  a  critical  time  with 
me  as  it  regards  duty.  It  has  occurred  to  my  mind 
that  I  have  hitherto,  perhaps,  made  my  bodily 
weakness,  as  well  as  mental  deficiencies,  too  much 
an  excuse  for  inaction  in  the  service  of  God.  I  am 
so  far  convinced  of  the  truth  of  this  as  to  be  deter- 
mined, in  the  Lord's  strength,  to  use  my  utmost  en- 
deavors to  form  a  female  concert  for  prayer  in  thi3 
part  of  our  society,  and  if  the  Lord  permit,  to 
assist  in  the  duties  of  the  meeting.  Yes,  in  the 
strength  of  the  Lord,  I  will  join  my  dear  sisters  in 
Christ  in  imploring  the  blessing  of  heaven  upon 
our  guilty  world ;  and  surely  according  to  our  si?i- 
ccrity  and  faith  the  Lord  will  hear  our  prayers  and 
answer  us  in  peace.  The  Lord  give  me  wisdom 
and  grace  to  help  in  this  time  of  need  !" 

Pious  females,  blest  with  health  and  favored 
Xvith  the  privilege  of  mingling  with  society,  look  at 

H.Hobbie.  |3 


146  MEMOIR   OF 

this,  and  ask  yourselves  whether  you  are  doing  all 
that  you  can  to  call  down  the  blessing  of  God  upon 
a  dying  world. 

(To  an  Aunt  in  B .) 

"Northeast,  May  29,  1829. 

u  My  dear  Aunt, — You  will  not  probably  be 
surprised  when  I  tell  you  that  I  still  remain  a  pri- 
soner. I  say  prisoner ;  for  I  consider  myself  such ; 
I  am  confined  to  this  narrow  house,  when  my  soul 
would  fain  burst  its  bars,  and  soar  away  to  the 
bright  world  of  liberty  and  peace.  I  am  still  chain- 
ed in  this  earthly  tabernacle  ;  but  the  building  has 
become  so  shattered  by  disease,  that  I  am  compell- 
ed to  abide  in  one  corner  of  it,  so  that  I  cannot  do 
the  things  that  I  would. 

"  I  have  sometimes  thought  it  was  a  great  mer- 
cy, as  in  my  own  case,  to  be  shut  out  from  the 
world,  and  not  exposed  to  its  many  snares  and 
temptations ;  but  again  I  have  been  at  a  loss  to  de- 
termine which  was  the  greatest  hindrance  in  the 
divine  life,  an  exposure  to  worldly  temptations,  or 
severe  bodily  pain  and  infirmity.  I  perceive  that 
this  state  of  seclusion  from  the  world  has  its  advan- 
tages and  its  disadvantages.  There  is  much  time 
for  the  study  of  one's  heart,  and  for  the  contem 
plation  of  an  unseen  world;  while  at  the  same 
time  I  am  often  inclined  to  make  my  bodily  weak- 


HANNAH    HOEBIE.  147 

ness  an  excuse  for  slothfulness  and  inactivity  in  the 
service  of  God. 

n  Most  deeply  do  I  lament  the  little  improve- 
ment I  make  of  my  mercies  of  chastisement.  In- 
deed, much  of  my  time  passes  away  under  exquisite 
pain,  and  in  a  state  of  apathy  or  great  mental  de- 
pression ;  and  I  ascribe  it  to  the  mercy  and  good- 
ness of  my  heavenly  Father  that  my  pains  have 
been  less  for  two  weeks  past  than  before  for  some 
time,  and  I  have  enjoyed  more  of  the  sweets  of 
meditation ;  but,  my  dear  Aunt,  I  would  not  have 
you  infer  from  this  that  I  think  the  hours  in  which 
I  enjoy  most  case  are  the  best  of  my  life.  The 
grace  of  God  has  taught  me  to  esteem  my  greatest 
sufferings  my  choicest  blessings  ;  they  wean  my 
heart  from  earthly  things,  and  give  a  keener  relish 
for  things  heavenly  and  divine.  I  feel  it  to  be  a 
source  of  comfort,  as  well  as  a  cause  of  gratitude, 
that  I  can  already  look  with  a  degree  of  indiffer- 
ence upon  earthly  enjoyments ;  I  can  sacrifice  them 
without  a  murmur  for  the  sake  of  enjoyments  which 
are  heavenly.  A  pious  writer  says, '  It  is  a  sore  trial 
to  the  soul  to  be  deprived  of  all  earthly  comforts, 
and  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  living  upon  God/ 
But  since  to  live  upon  God  is  to  partake  of  a  luxu- 
ry of  more  than  mortal  excellence,  I  would  never 
be  guilty  of  such  folly  as  to  choose  a  meaner  repast. 
"  Your  very  affectionate  niece, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 


148  MEMOIR   OP 

Under  date  of  May  31,  she  thus  expresses  her- 
self in  her  journal  : 

lf  Although  I  am  ungrateful  to  God  continually, 
yet  he  is  very  merciful  to  me.  The  Lord  hears  the  cry 
of  the  righteous,  I  know,  but  he  is  merciful  to  my 
unrighteousness  !  He  has  passed  by  my  sins  and  in- 
clined his  ear  many  a  time  to  my  broken  requests. 
I  am  now  so  favored  that  I  read  considerably.  I  am 
inclined  to  think  the  rule  I  have  adopted  of  reading 
a  chapter  in  the  Bible  at  once  is  not  as  good  as 
to  read,  in  my  weak  state  especially,  a  smaller  por- 
tion. Rules  may  be  useful  in  binding  such  as  have 
no  relish  for  the  Bible,  but  I  desire  to  read  it  for 
instruction  and  profit ;  I  delight  in  it.  In  reading 
a  whole  chapter  I  find  myself  often  fatigued,  and 
of  course  less  profited.  Besides,  my  treacherous 
heart  retains  so  little  of  what  I  read,  that  I  purpose 
now  to  read  such  a  portion  as  I  can  retain,  and 
strive  to  dwell  upon  it  till  it  has  done  its  office. 

M  What  abundant  reason  have  I  to  be  thankful, 
that  in  my  confinement  I  may  still  have  recourse 
to  the  word  of  God ;  and  also  what  reason  to  be 
thankful,  that  though  I  may  not  go  up  with  the 
worshiping  assembly  to  his  house,  the  Lord  will 
condescend  to  make  here  a  sanctuary  for  me." 

In  a  letter  to  an  aunt,  dated  June  1,  1829,  she 
says  : 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  149 

M  Acquiescence  in  the  will  of  God  makes  us  hap- 
py at  any  time  and  under  any  circumstances.  It 
is  in  kindness  that  God  afflicts  me,  and  in  kindness 
too,  that  he  gives  a  season  of  respite.  We  are  apt 
to  be  agitated  with  distress,  and  then  it  is  not  so  easy 
to  feel  that  God  afflicts  us  because  he  loves  us  ;  but 
when  severer  suffering  is  removed,  then  a  holy 
calm  fills  the  soul;  and  the  pains  that  remain,  in- 
stead of  ruffling,  soothe  us,  and  melt  us  into  sub- 
mission to  the  Divine  will.  The  benefit  of  my  af- 
fliction is  most  felt  in  the  seasons  of  respite  which 
are  given  me.  I  have  felt  a  sweet  and  sacred  sub- 
mission and  repose,  which  are  a  rich  compensation 
for  all  that  I  have  suffered.  How  delightful  the 
thought,  that  such  seasons  are  only  the  earnests  of 
that  rest  which  we  shall  enjoy  in  heaven !  It  is  acqui- 
escence in  the  Divine  will  which  causes  '  this  holy 
calm  within  the  breast.'  When  we  shall*  be  made 
perfect  in  heaven,  there  will  be  perfect  acquies- 
cence in  all  the  Lord's  doings  and  will  :  This  must 
be  perfect  peace.  I  would  welcome,  then,  all  that 
bows  my  will,  and  tends  to  reconcile  me  more  to 
the  sovereign  and  excellent  government  of  God." 

To  an  aunt  in  New- York,  already  referred  to, 
she  writes  on  the  Sth  of  this  month — 

"  How  is  my  little  namesake  1  Is  she  well  ?  I 
heard  that  she  could  articulate  some  words  very  dis- 
13* 


150  MEMOIR    OP 

tinctly  at  twelve  months  old.  O  that  the  Lord,  who 
ordains  strength  out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and 
sucklings,  would  grant  that  she  may,  from  a  child, 
speak  the  praises  of  her  Redeemer  !  You  have 
been  called  to  yield  up  another  of  your  offspring 
into  the  hands  of  him  who  gave  it;  not,  indeed,  with- 
out a  mothers  yearnings.  But  it  is  a  comfortable 
reflection,  that  the  little  sufferer  has  gained  at 
length  a  happy  release.  As  the  Lord  does  not  take 
from  his  people  outward  mercies  but  to  give  a  richer 
portion,  I  hope  my  dear  aunt  has  received  double 
at  the  hand  of  the  Lord  for  all  her  sorrows ;  that 
her  seeming  loss  has  been  made  up  by  abundant 
communications  of  grace ;  and  that  the  Lord  will 
be  to  her  a  portion  better  than  sons  and  daughters. 

M  The  loving-kindness  of  our  God  is  never  more 
conspicuous  than  when  he  chastises  us  :  still  it  is  a 
mark  of  hfe  displeasure,  and  shows  his  hatred  of 
sin.  If  left  to  our  own  courses,  we  should  certain- 
ly find  iniquity  to  be  our  ruin.  What  an  unspeak- 
able mercy  is  it,  then,  to  be  corrected  by  a  Father, 
who  intends  it  all  for  our  good.  It  is  well  that  our 
trangressions  are  visited  *  with  the  rod  and  our  ini- 
quities with  stripes.'  '  May  the  God  of  all  grace, 
who  hath  called  us  unto  eternal  life  by  Jesus  Christy 
after  that  we  have  suffered  awhile,  make  us  per- 
fect; stablish,  strengthen,  settle  us/  And  to  him  be 
all  the  glory  for  ever." 

"  June  19.     My  present  cup  is  full,   and  runs 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  151 

over  with  every  good.  I  enjoy  almost  all  the  rich 
means  of  grace  except  public  ordinances,  and  an  un- 
usual degree  of  relief  from  pain  ;  but  how  little  is 
my  heart  affected ;  how  difficult  to  give  thanks  al- 
ways/or all  things  through  Jesus  Christ.  Indeed  I 
can  seldom  feel  that  I  do  actually  enjoy  so  much 
from  God.  Was  there  ever  a  wretch  guilty  of 
such  base  ingratitude  to  my  kind  Benefactor  % 
Thousands  of  mercies  I  have  been  blest  with,  and 
tens  of  thousands,  all  marked  by  my  ingratitude. 
But  this  is  not  my  greatest  sin  ;  for  often  when  the 
blessed  rod,  (which  brings  me  to  God  and  keeps  me 
near  him,)  has  been  partially  removed,  my  heart 
has  qrown  careless  and  rav  love  has  waxed  cold. 
Creatures  have  become  idols,  and  my  affections  have 
fastened  to  the  world.  But  he  who  loves  me  far  bet- 
ter than  I  love  myself,  never  forsakes  me  altogether. 
I  hear  continually,  either  the  voice  of  the  rod,  or  the 
sweet  calls  of  mercy,  instructing  me  to  repent,  and 
bidding  me  return ;  and  I  come  back  with  lamen- 
tation and  grief,  with  shame  and  confusion  of  face: 
then  I  receive  pardon,  always  through  Jesus,  the 
precious  Savior.  Thus  I  go  on  through  life,  sin- 
ning and  repenting — sinning  and  repenting.  It  is 
my  way  to  destroy  myself;  but  thine,  O  Lord,  to 
redeem  and  save  ;  and  God  is  ever  known  to  me  as 
*  merciful  and  gracious,  slow  to  anger  and  abun- 
dant in  goodness/  O  turn  away  mine  eyes  from 
beholding  vanity  ;  lead  me  to  Christ ;  and  let  his 


152  MEMOIR   OP 

*  blood,  through  the  eternal  Spirit,  purge  my  con- 
science from  dead  works,  to  serve  thee,  the  living 
and  true  God ! 

"  This  heart  has  been  bought  with  the  blood  of 
Jesus ;  it  ought  to  be  his.  O  Lord,  fix  it  upon  him 
for  ever,  for  thou  knowest  it  is  my  desire  to  give  it." 

"  June  2S.  I  have  very  much  enjoyed  the  so- 
ciety of  my  friends  the  week  past ;  but,  (probably 
lest  I  should  forget  that  his  friendship  is  still  bet- 
ter,) the  Lord  has  increased  the  burden  of  suffer- 
ing. Several  have  called  to  see  me  ;  and  I  bless  thy 
name,  O  Lord,  that  thou  hast  enlarged  my  heart 
and  opened  my  mouth  to  speak  to  them  of  the  things 
of  thy  kingdom.  I  thank  thee  that  so  many  of  my 
friends  are  thy  friends.  Wilt  thou  not  pour  out  thy 
Spirit  upon  thy  children,  that  it  may  be  our  happy 
portion  to  enjoy  the  blessing  of  those  who  fear  the 
Lord,  and  '  speak  often  one  to  another?  and  think 
upon  his  name.  *  And  they  shall  be  mine,  saith  the 
Lord  of  hosts,  in  that  day  when  I  make  up  my 
jewels,  and  I  will  spare  them,  as  a  man  spareth  his 
own  son  that  serveth  him.'" 

C(  July  3.  How  many  are  my  foes  in  this  state 
of  probation !' many  and  strong  are  those  against 
whom  I  have  to  fight !  but  ' the  Lord  is  on  my  side; 
whom  shall  I  fear  ]  I  have  not  carnal  weapons,  but 
those  which  are  mighty  to  the  pulling  down  of 
strong  holds ;'  and  I  thank  God  that  he  has  taught 
me  to  use  them.   By  this  I  know,  O  Lord,  that  thou 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  153 

favorest  me,  because  mine  enemies  triumph  not 
over  me.  The  Lord  in  infinite  mercy  save  me  both 
from  corruption  within  and  temptations  without. 

"  I  am  blest  with  strength  to  use  my  needle  a 
little  ;  and  is  it  so,  that  I  cannot  even  look  upon  the 
things  of  this  world,  or  touch  them,  but  my  foolish 
heart  seems  to  cling  to  them  1  I  know  that  all  these 
things  are  vanity.  O  that  I  might  be  entirely  weaned 
from  these  vain  things,  and  be  made  to  relish,  and 
be  familiar  with,  the  things  that  lie  beyond  the 
grave  !" 

"  July  5.  Sin,  like  a  mighty  deluge,  sweeps 
over  the  earth,  and  death  rejoices  in  his  prey.  How 
many  are  daily  swallowed  up,  thou,  O  God,  only 
knowest ;  but  I  am  kindly  spared.  Thou  hast  pre- 
pared an  ark  for  the  saving  of  thy  people ;  and  I, 
through  rich  grace,  may  dare  to  hope  that  I  shall 
make  one  of  that  happy  number.  The  Lord  has 
kindly  taken  me  into  the  ark  of  safety.  If  I  some- 
times leave  it,  I  find,  like  the  dove,  no  rest  for  the 
sole  of  my  foot  until  I  return.  Here,  then,  in  this 
place  of  refuge,  will  I  abide,  saved  from  the  floods 
of  wrath,  and  sheltered  from  the  storm,  until  these 
troubled  billows  upon  which  I  am  now  tossed  shall 
be  assuaged,  and  then  shall  I  rest,  not  upon  a 
mountain  of  the  earth,  but  upon  the  holy  hill  op 

ZlON." 

Her  journal  contains  several  instances  of  prayer 


154  MEMOIR   OP 

for  rulers  and  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  They  are 
all  rich  in  pious  feeling  and  pertinent  thought ;  and 
they  usually  have  a  very  close  connection  with,  and 
concentration  in,  the  glory  of  the  latter  day.  For 
this  she  earnestly  and  often  prayed ;  and  she  seem- 
ed deeply  sensible  that  much  depended  upon  the 
rulers  of  the  earth  and  the  heralds  of  the  cross  in 
reference  to  its  speedy  coming.  The  following  is 
an  example  : 

u  O  most  merciful  Father,  wilt  thou  bless  the  ru- 
lers of  our  land.  May  they  be  renewed  by  grace, 
that  they  may  rule  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  and  be  a 
terror  to  evil  doers  ;  let  peace  be  multiplied  through- 
out the  earth ;  may  thy  word  have  free  course  and 
be  glorified. 

"  Bless  thy  ministering  servants — all  who  truly 
love  thy  work ;  O  give  them  success ;  give  testimo- 
ny to  the  word  of  thy  grace  wherever  it  is  pro- 
claimed; let  not  thy  servants  labor  in  vain,  nor 
spend  their  strength  for  nought.  Send  forth  more 
laborers  into  the  harvest.  The  land  mourneth,  the 
people  perish.  I  beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  give  them 
pastors  after  thine  own  heart ;  faithful  men,  who 
shall  exalt  and  glory  in  the  cross  of  the  Redeemer 
and  gather  many  souls  to  Christ. 

"'  Bless  all  the  means  that  are  used  for  the  build- 
ing up  of  the'  kingdom  of  Christ  throughout  the 
world  in  lands  of  darkness  and  superstition.    O  may 


HANNAH    H0BBIE.  155 

'  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arise  with  healing  in  his 
wings;'  let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  the  glo- 
rious light  of  salvation,  and  resound  with  thy  praise. 
The  Lord  hasten  it.    Amen." 

The  following  are  her  meditations  on  another 
Lord's  day : 

M  July  9.  l  This  is  the  day  the  Lord  hath  made; 
I  will  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  it.'  O  thou  who  gavest 
commandment  concerning  it,  saying,  '  Remember 
the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy/  I  thank  thee  for 
setting  apart  one  day  in  seven  for  a  day  oiholy  rest, 
God  has  connected  a  blessing  with  the  observance 
of  his  day.  It  is  a  matter  of  great  thankfulness  with 
me,  that  my  heart  has  long  been  inclined  to  regard 
this  day  unto  the  Lord.  Truly  the  remembrance  of 
it  is  sweet.  To  give  this  day  wholly  to  God's  ser- 
vice is  my  greatest  delight.  I  cannot  say  with  others, 
let  us  go  unto  the  house  of  God  ;  but  '  Thus  saith 
the  high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth  eternity, 
whose  name  is  Holy ;  I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy 
place,  with  him  also  that  is  of  a  contrite  and  hum- 
ble spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the  humble,  and  to 
revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones !'  Blessed 
Jesus,  my  desire  is  unto  thee,  that  thou  wouldst 
revive  my  heart  this  day,  and  henceforth.  O  that  I 
may  be  humble  !  O  for  a  heart  of  devotion,  prayer, 
and  praise  ! 

M  I  have  made  this  a  day  of  particular  confession, 


156  MEMOIR   OP 

and  renewed  my  covenant  with  God,  taking  a  new 
and  firmer  hold  on  Christ,  in  whom  I  enjoy,  and 
hope  to  enjoy,  all  things.  I  desire  at  this  time,  in 
the  deepest  humility,  to  confess  my  sins  before  God, 
entreating  him  to  teach  me,  and  show  me  that  which 
I  know  not,  that  if  I  have  done  iniquity  I  may  do  it 
no  more.  I  thank  thee,  O  God,  that  I  have  been 
brought  into  the  embrace  of  the  everlasting  cove- 
nant, where  alone  are  found  safety,  joy,  and  peace  ; 
that  Christ  is  become  the  Lord,  my  righteousness ; 
and  that  I  feel  so  often  thy  Spirit  witnessing  with 
mine  that  I  am  a  child  of  God,  Surely  I  can  say,  My 
Beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his.  Although  I  sin 
against  God,  and  thus  mar  my  comfort,  (and  pro- 
bably shall  continue  to  do  so  until  delivered  from 
this  world  of  corruption  and  the  body  of  this  death,) 
yet  Christ  has  become  '  the  end  of  the  law  for 
righteousness ;'  by  him  I  am  delivered  from  its 
dreadful  curse,  and  in  him  am  I  an  heir  of  salvation. 
I  have  no  hope  in  myself,  I  receive  no  good  from 
God  of  any  kind,  but  through  the  one  Mediator 
Jesus  Christ.  I  have  seen  that  in  him  all  wisdom  is 
found;  that  in  him  alone  is  acceptance  with  God ; 
that  fro?n  his  Spirit  comes  obedience  ;  that  in  him 
I  find  all  my  real  happiness.  If  I  know  my  own 
heart  he  is  all  in  all  to  me.  O  that  I  may  ever  feel 
so,  and  go  on  trusting  and  rejoicing  in,  and  resting 
upon  the  Lord,  my  righteousness  and  strength.  O 
may  thy  power  subdue  the  corruptions  of  my  heart ! 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  157 

defend  me  from  foes  within,  and  foes  without ;  and 
when  called  to  fight,  wilt  thou,  O  God,  my  King 
and  Captain,  arm  me  for  the  conflict,  and  lead  me 
on  to  victory/' 

tc  July  14.  Wonder,  O  my  soul,  and  be  aston- 
ished at  the  long-suffering  and  forbearance  of  thy 
God  !  I  tread  his  mercies  under  foot ;  I  break  my 
vows ;  I  perform  not  my  engagements.  O  that  a 
sense  of  God's  goodness  might  lead  me  to  repent- 
ance unfeigned  !  I  solemnly  dedicated  all  the  pow- 
ers and  faculties  of  soul  and  body  to  my  God ;  but 
the  advantages  given  me  I  have  often  employed  to 
my  disadvantage  and  to  his  dishonor.  O  this  treach- 
erous heart !  how  often,  through  its  deceitfulness, 
am  I  turned  aside !  May  the  Lord  fix  it  on  my 
heart,  that  in  him  only  have  I  wisdom  and  strength, 
that  it  is  not  in  him  that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps  j 
then  shall  I  learn  to  trust  in  him  for  all  things  ! 

"  O  Lord,  my  desire  is  unto  thee,  and  from  thee 
is  all  my  fruit.  May  I  enjoy  thy  bounty  with  thank- 
fulness— occupy  my  talents  in  thy  service — devote 
my  time  to  usefulness  and  communion  with  God, 
and  find  my  steps  directed  of  thee.  Hold  up  my 
goings,  and  help  me  to  find  out  my  easily  besetting 
sin,  that  I  may  set  a  mark  upon  it,  and  a  double 
watch ;  and,  *  laying  aside  every  weight,  and  the 
sin  that  doth  so  easily  beset  me,'  may  I  f  run  with 
patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  me/  and  at  last 
obtain  the  prize." 

ILHobbic  14 


158  MEMOIR   OF 

Having  recovered  from  a  fearful  disease  which 
brought  me  to  the  very  verge  of  the  grave,  in  re- 
ference to  which  I  find  ardent  prayers  inserted  in 
the  journal  of  our  young  friend ;  and  being  permit- 
ted to  resume  the  labors  of  the  pulpit,  amid  the 
congratulations  of  an  affectionate  people,  she  thus 
notices  the  loving-kindness  of  him  who  bringeth 
down  to  the  grave  and  raiseth  up,  according  to  his 
sovereign  pleasure ; 

"  July  27.  The  Lord  hath  dealt  graciously  with 
his  servant.  Although  sorely  chastened  for  a  sea- 
son, he  was  not  given  over  unto  death.  The  Lord 
hath  brought  him  back  from  the  grave,  and  restored 
again  to  us  our  pastor,  our  friend,  our  spiritual 
teacher;  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who 
alone  doeth  wonders  in  Israel !  O  Lord,  thou  hast 
spared  thy  servant,  and  he  lives  to  declare  the 
works  of  the  Lord.  Yea  more,  thou  hast  with 
thine  own  right  hand  opened  to  him  the  gate  of  the 
Lord  into  which  the  righteous  enter,  and  brought 
him  there  to  pay  his  vows  unto  the  Lord  in  the 
presence  of  his  people — in  the  courts  of  the  Lord's 
house — in  the  midst  of  Jerusalem.  Save  now,  I 
beseech  thee,  O  Lord,  save  by  the  word  of  truth 
which  thy  servant  speaketh." 

The  present  was  a  marked  period  in  her  sick- 
ness, as  she  was  able  for  a  few  days  to  sit  up  con- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE  159 

siderably,  and  once  rode  out  to  the  distance  of 
nearly  a  mile ;  but  it  was  only  a  short  season  of 
respite. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


It  is  a  great  blessing  to  be  raised  up,  even  par- 
tially, from  a  sickness  which  has  preyed  upon  us 
for  years,  though  we  may  know  that  it  yet  has  a 
firm  hold  upon  the  springs  of  life.  The  relief  it 
gives  to  the  weary  spirit  is  unspeakable.  None 
but  those  who  have  experienced  it  can  tell  what  it 
is  to  lean  upon  the  arm  of  friendship,  and  totter  out 
from  the  prison  where  we  have  been  held  in  close 
and  long-continued  confinement ;  to  leave  behind 
us  the  walls  of  a  sick-chamber,  however  comforta- 
ble they  may  have  been  made  by  the  assiduities  of 
friends,  the  kindness  of  sisters,  and  the  affection 
that  dwells  only  in  a  mother's  bosom  ;  to  leave  the 
pillow  that  has  witnessed  so  many  of  our  tears,  and 
afforded  its  companionship  through  many  a  weary 
season  ;  to  go  out  and  look  upon  the  face  of  nature, 
and  breathe  the  fresh  air,  pure  as  heaven  gives  it. 

Hannah  was  permitted  for  a?ice,  after  long  and 
painful  imprisonment,  to  look  out  upon  the  green 


160  MEMOIR  OF 

fields  and  trees,  arrayed  in  all  the  freshness  of  their 
summer  beauties ;  to  hear  the  song  of  the  birds, 
and  see  them  in  the  ecstacy  of  their  delight,  as  they 
sent  up  their  notes  of  praise  to  him  who  careth 
even  for  the  sparrow ;  to  gaze  upon  the  fleecy 
clouds  as  they  hung  out  to  the  view  in  surpassing 
loveliness  in  the  soft  stillness  of  a  summer's  morn- 
ing. Such  scenes  make  usually  a  strong  impres- 
sion upon  the  mind  of  one  who  is  always  looking 
out  for  God ;  and  Hannah  never  failed  to  see  him 
in  them. 

One  night  just  before  she  died,  she  said  to  a  lady 
who  was  sitting  by  her,  that  she  had  been  reading 
of  Orion,  and  wished  to  know  if  it  was  visible,  that 
she  might  see  it.  It  was  hanging  out  its  splendors 
directly  in  front  of  the  window,  but  before  her 
friend  could  speak  to  her,  a  violent  paroxysm  of 
pain,  which  continued  for  some  time,  rendered  her 
incapable  of  looking  at  it.  Is  she  not  now  behold- 
ing brighter  glories  1 

She  had  been  intimate  with  a  young  female  in 
the  neighborhood,  who,  after  several  years  of  great 
suffering,  had  departed  in  the  hope  of  a  blessed 
immortality.  At  such  times,  when  we  feel  a  little 
returning  strength,  we  love  to  look  upon  dear 
friends,  especially  if  they  have  been  afflicted  like 
ourselves ;  or  if  they  have  been  removed  by  death, 
we  take  a  melancholy  pleasure  in  looking  in  upon 
the  fire-side  which  they  have  forsaken  for  ever,  and 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  161 

upon  the  chamber  where  they  suffered.  It  is  not 
strange,  then,  that  Hannah  embraced  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  visit  the  dwelling  where  the  com- 
panion of  her  childhood  died.  Her  journal  particu- 
larly notices  this  visit. 

M  August  7.  I  have  just  returned  from  neighbor 
Gilbert's.  I  have  been  permitted  to  visit  the  place 
formerly  occupied  by  my  dear  afflicted  Julia.  Long 
did  she  wait  for  her  change  ;  but  I  trust  her  blessed 
spirit  is  now  at  rest  in  the  Savior's  bosom.  The 
number  of  my  years  of  confinement  is  now  almost 
equal  to  that  of  hers  ;  and  I  still  remain  a  prisoner, 
waiting  for  the  accomplishment  of  my  Heavenly 
Father's  purposes  concerning  me.  That  I  may  not 
live  in  vain,  may  I  learn  to  put  all  my  trust  in  Christ ; 
and  O  may  the  rich  means  of  grace  I  now  enjoy  be 
blest  to  my  improvement  in  the  knowledge  of  G  od  ; 
to  my  growth  in  grace ;  to  my  usefulness  in  life, 
and  preparation  in  the  end,  for  the  enjoyment  of 
God  for  ever  ! " 

<f  August  15.  Have  been  favored  for  several 
days  with  a  visit  from  a  beloved  aunt  from  New- 
York.  Her  daughter  named  after  me  is  with  her  ; 
a  promising  child.  She  acquired  the  faculty  of 
speech  very  young.  O  may  she  early  learn  to  know 
the  Lord  ;  and  may  her  tongue  be  soon  employed 
in  speaking  the  Redeemer's  praise.  As  we  are 
united  by  the  ties  of  kindred,  so  may  we  be  united 
14* 


162  MEMOIR   OF 

in  the  bonds  of  the  everlasting  covenant  to  Christ ; 
and  as  we  are  one  by  name,  so  may  we  be  one  in 
Him.  May  the  blessing  of  the  Hope  of  Israel  be 
hers,  and  may  she  far  excel  in  all  that  is  good,  her 
whose  name  she  bears.' ' 

"  September  7.  *  O  Israel,  thou  hast  destroyed 
thyself,  but  in  me  is  thine  help.'  Oftentimes  do  my 
iniquities  prevail  against  me,  yet  as  often  does  the 
Lord  deliver  me.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  that  sin 
has  not  dominion  over  me  ;  and  blessed  be  his  Holy 
name  that  I  am  not  under  the  law,  but  under  grace. 
The  Lord  has  discovered  to  me  my  most  easily  be- 
setting sin  and  humbled  my  proud  heart.  Thanks 
be  unto  God  that  he  has  brought  me  to  sit  again  at 
the  foot  of  the  cross.  Teach  me,  O  Lord,  thy  way, 
that  I  may  know  thee,  and  henceforth  keep  mine 
eyes  directly  upon  thee,  for  thou  art  my  light,  my 
guide,  my  salvation,  my  all" 

"  September  16.  The  Lord  is  cutting  down  one 
and  another  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left.  As 
for  me,  I  am  not  only  a  subject  of  his  preserving 
mercy,  but  of  his  redeeming  grace.  What  shall  I 
render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  ]  It  is  my 
misery  that  I  do  so  little  to  promote  his  glory  ;  that 
I  manifest  so  little  concern  for  the  souls  of  my  fel- 
low-sinners. Quicken  me,  O  Lord,  to  duty,  and 
inspire  my  heart  with  new  life  for  Christ's  sake.,, 

"  September  23.  The  remains  of  our  friend 
H .  one  of  the  officers  of  our  church,  are  this 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  163 

day  consigned  to  the  grave,  the  house  appointed 
for  all  living.  The  church,  in  this  death,  sustains 
a  loss  which  God  alone  can  make  up.  The  Lord 
appoint  a  successor  who  shall  faithfully  perform 
the  duties  from  which  he  has  been  called  away,  that 
the  church  may  still  prosper !  May  her  graces  be 
more  and  more  exhibited  in  her  onward  march  ! 
Another  of  our  number  is  gone  ;  may  we  who  re- 
main, try  ourselves,  and  closely  examine  our  hopes 
for  eternity.  O  may  all  our  lamps  be  kept  trimmed 
and  burning  ! 

"Let  this  be  a  day  of  thy  power  in  the  family  of 
thy  departed  servant,  among  those  of  them  who 
are  yet  without  God.  Turn  them  from  darkness 
to  light,  and  from  sin  unto  thee,  the  living  and  true 
God.  In  their  affliction  may  they  seek  thee  early, 
and  wilt  thou  be  the  widow's  God,  and  the  stay  of 
the  orphan." 

"  October  13.  Have  this  day  entered  my  twenty- 
third  year.  I  do  humbly  trust  I  have  made  some 
advancement  towards  my  desired  haven.  I  mourn 
and  lament  my  unfruitfulness,  but  I  bless  God  that 
I  have  been  taught  more  of  the  depravity  of  my 
heart.  In  proportion  to  the  knowledge  I  have 
gained  of  my  own  emptiness,  has  the  preciousness 
of  the  Savior,  and  the  excellency  of  his  character, 
and  the  beauty  of  holiness  increased.  I  thank  thee, 
O  Lord,  for  the  present  hope  of  glory  in  my  soul. 
O  grant,  that  as  death  approaches,  my  prospects  may 


164  MEMOIR   OF 

grow  brighter  and  my  faith  stronger  ;  and  may  1 
maintain  a  firm  and  unshaken  confidence  in  thy 
mercy  and  thy  covenant  faithfulness  to  the  last." 

"  October  20.  Mournful  catastrophe  !  A  child 
of  one  of  our  neighbors  fell  yesterday  from  a  loaded 
cart ;  the  wheel  turned  upon  his  neck  and  killed 
him  in  an  instant.  "What  a  sudden  transition  from 
this  world  to  eternity  !  In  the  midst  of  life  we  are 
in  death.  Comfort  thine  handmaid,  the  mother, 
for  I  trust  she  is  thine.  Let  the  father  be  brought 
by  this  distressing  providence,  to  fly  to  Christ  for 
refuge ;  and  let  such  as  are  supposing  death  to  be 
distant  be  admonished  that  judgment  and  eternity 
may  be  very  near  !" 

"  October  22.  '  Lo,  this  have  I  found,  that  God 
made  man  upright,  but  he  hath  sought  out  many 
inventions.,  O  my  God,  save  me  from  an  ensnaring 
world,  and  save  me  from  myself!  I  am  trying  to 
have  my  heart  fixed,  trusting  in  God;  that  I  may 
remain  steadfast  amid  the  changing  circumstances 
of  life  for  it  is  too  easily  affected  with  outward 
things.  Although  the  Lord  has  been  gracious  to 
me  in  showing  me  the  pride  of  my  heart,  and,  of 
late,  has  strengthened  me  against  it,  yet  I  know 
that  I  am  still  too  easily  elated  with  praise,  and  my 
heart  wants  more  humbling  in  spiritual  joy  and 
prosperity.  When  God  requires  me  to  wait  a  little 
longer  upon  him  for  needed  grace  than  I  hoped,  I 
grow  impatient;  I  am  too  easily  provoked  when 


HANNAH    H0BBIE.  165 

offended,  either  from  without  or  from  within.  The 
latent  evils  of  my  heart,  O  how  many  !  Searcher 
of  hearts,  thou  knowest  my  sins  and  follies ;  par- 
don them,  I  pray  thee,  even  all  my  past  offences, 
and  give  me  strength  that  I  may  walk  humbly  with 
God  all  the  days  of  my  life.,> 

She  received  in  this  month  a  letter  from  a  cousin 
residing  in  New- York,  giving  her  an  account  of  his 
hopeful  conversion,  of  his  employment  as  teacher 
in  a  Sabbath-school,  and  suggesting  the  idea  of  de- 
voting himself  to  the  ministry.  In  answer  to  this 
she  writes  the  following  letter  : 

"  Northeast,  Oct.  26,  1829. 
"  My  dear  Cousin, — I  have  received  your  inte- 
resting letter,  and  hasten  to  congratulate  you  on 
your  new  course  of  life,  and  your  present  employ- 
ment, which  you  say  you  have  found  pleasant,  and 
which,  I  venture  to  affirm,  will  be  found  so  by  all 
who  choose  the  service  of  God.  To  such  the  whole 
way  is  pleasant ;  it 


-Is  peace, 


1  And  leads  to  peace,  and  joys  no  more  alloyed.' 

"  Who  can  calculate  the  worth  of  a  pious  educa- 
tion ?  We,  my  young  friend,  have  been  peculiarly 
favored  in  this  respect,  and  how  should  our  hearts 
be  enlarged  with  gratitude  to  God,  that  the  bless- 


16G  MEMOIR   OF 

ing  has  not  been  in  vain.  Though  we  have  cause 
to  regret  our  long  delay  to  serve  him,  and  our  so 
long  persisting  in  a  course  of  sin  and  folly,  yet  let 
us  bless  God  that  we  have  not  been  left  to  remain 
in  forge tfulness  of  him,  and  in  the  way  to  eternal 
death.  I  feel  that  my  early  advantages  were  great, 
but  have  not  yours  been  still  greater,  as  from  your 
infancy  you  have  been  trained  up  in  those  schools 
which  have  become  such  nurseries  of  piety  1  How 
many  this  day  can  bless  God  for  the  benefit  of  Sab- 
bath-school instruction  !  Eternity  alone  can  disclose 
the  full  amount  of  good  which  this  benevolent  en- 
terprize  has  already  accomplished  under  the  divine 
blessing.  What  numbers  have  thereby  been  res- 
cued from  eternal  misery !  In  the  last  great  day 
it  will  be  said,  when  God  writeth  up  the  people, 
this  and  that  child  was  born  there. 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  Holy  Spirit  has  re- 
cently visited  the  school  to  which  you  belong,  and 
that  several  have  been  hopefully  converted  to  God. 
This  season,  I  trust,  you  will  long  remember ;  for 
I  am  happy  to  find  that  you  have  already  tuned 
your  harp  to  the  song  of  praise  for  what  you  have 
experienced  within  the  sacred  confines  of  a  Sab- 
bath-school. Words  cannot  express  the  joy  I  felt 
on  first  hearing  this  glad  news.  I  think  I  felt 
somewhat  as  angels  do  when  they  rejoice  ovei 
*  one  sinner  that  repenteth.'  You  say  that  when 
your  anxiety  commenced,  it  was  because  you  saw 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  167 

yourself  to  be  in  the  road  to  eternal  perdition.  The 
sinner  must  see  the  danger  he  is  in  before  he  will 
be  induced  to  flee  to  Christ  for  safety.  I  was  re- 
joiced at  these  words  in  your  letter,  which,  though 
included  in  a  parenthesis,  did  not  escape  me,  viz. 
1  Praise,  everlasting  praise,  be  to  Almighty  God  for 
that  agonizing  moment!'  That  agony  which  we 
feel  at  such  a  time  for  sin  is  a  bitter  cup ;  but 
when  peace  succeeds,  we  begin  a  new  song  of 
praise  to  our  Deliverer,  which,  though  feebly  sung 
on  earth,  is  raised  to  louder  strains  upon  the  shores 
of  immortality ! 

"  But,  my  dear  cousin,  although  your  friends  re- 
joice over  you  now,  let  me  assure  you  it  is  with 
fear  and  trembling.  O  let  me  exhort  you  to  dig 
deep,  and  see  that  you  lay  the  foundation  of  your 
hope  securely  upon  the  Rock  of  Ages.  There  is 
folly  and  danger  in  building  on  any  thing  else.  But 
O  to  escape  the  sins  and  follies  of  youth !  O  to 
escape  the  jaws  of  the  devouring  adversary  !  O  to 
be  saved  from  an  ensnaring  world,  and  even  from 
yourself!  Study  much  your  own  heart;  watch 
and  pray;  make  the  Lord  your  strength  always, 
and  seek  to  be  filled  with  the  fullness  of  God. 

u  I  understand  that  you  purpose,  before  long,  to 
unite  yourself  to  the  church  of  God.  Do  this  in  the 
strength  of  the  Lord,  and  prize  its  ordinances,  and 
you  will  see  the  good  of  his  chosen,  and  glory  in 
his  inheritance.    Remember  to  pray  for  that  dear 


168  MEMOIR   OF 

brother  of  yours,  and  those  dear  sisters ;  that  they 
too  may  be  brought  to  the  fold  and  fitted  for  God's 
service. 

"  I  feel  that  the  present  is  an  important  crisis 
with  you ;  and,  aware  that  your  future  usefulness 
chiefly  depends  on  the  present  decision,  I  am  in- 
clined earnestly  to  pray,  as  you  request  me  to  do, 
that  your  decision  may  be  the  result  of  wisdom 
communicated  from  on  high,  and  that  it  may  be  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  his  kingdom. 

11  Devote  some  of  your  leisure  moments  to  writ- 
ing me,  and  you  will  gratify  your  affectionate  cou- 
sin. Hannah  Hobbie." 

"November  8.  Sabbath  evening.  The  Lord's 
supper  is  to  be  administered  this  evening  at  Captain 

C — *s,  for  the  accommodation  of  his  aged  mother, 

who  has  been  blind  for  several  months.  Methinks 
it  will  be  a  precious  season  to  the  disciples  who 
may  be  permitted  to  meet  on  the  occasion ;  and  I 
had  almost  said,  why  am  I  not  favored  with  a  seat 
among  them  %  But  why  should  I  reply  against  the 
wise  and  gracious  dispensations  of  Providence  ]  It 
is  indeed"  painful  to  be  deprived  of  the  privilege  of 
meeting  with  my  christian  friends,  not  only  in  the 
house  of  God,  but  at  other  times  and  places ;  espe- 
cially do  I  mourn  the  loss  of  this  evening's  privi- 
lege with  them.  Shall  I  no  more  enjoy  the  sweets 
©f  an  ordinance  designed  to  show  what  the  Son  of 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  169 

God  has  done  to  save  such  sinners  as  I  am  1  O  may 
the  Lord  give  me  perfect  resignation  to  his  will  in 
all  things ;  may  I  wait  patiently  for  the  time  when 
he  shall  be  pleased  to  grant  me  admittance  into  his 
courts  above,  to  join  with  saints  and  angels  in  that 
delightful  worship  which  will  be  continued  for 
ever." 

She  was  soon  severely  affected  by  a  cold,  or  by 
one  of  the  many  unaccountable  changes  which  oc- 
cur in  such  complicated  cases  of  decline,  and  passed 
through  a  season  of  unusual  distress  of  body  with 
her  accustomed  patience  and  fortitude.  The  record 
which  follows,  is  the  expression  of  her  heart  in  re- 
viewing this  season  of  trial : 

"  November  28.  My  disordered  body  has  for 
several  days  been  greatly  agitated ;  and  as  there 
exists  an  intimate  connection  between  the  body 
and  the  mind,"  I  am  induced  to  believe  my  mind  has 
participated  in  the  general  derangement  of  the  sys- 
tem. I  have  not  been  able  to  discern  spiritual  things 
so  clearly  as  at  other  times  ;  but,  thanks  be  to  God, 
I  am  enabled,  for  the  most  part,  to  preserve  clear 
evidence  of  -his  love.  I  thank  God  for  a  Savior 
whose  kindness  and  care  never  fail ;  and  whom  I 
may  trust  when  subject  to  changes  of  every  kind, 
especially  such  as  my  bodily  weakness  often  sub* 
H.Hobbi*  15 


170  MEMOIR   OF 

jects  me  to.  Committing  myself  to  his  care,  I  re- 
joice in  the  assurance  of  ever  remaining  safe. 

<{  A  season  now  and  then  occurs  when  a  sort  of 
apathy  pervades  both  mind  and  body ;  but  I  feel 
myself  under  peculiar  obligations  to  God  for  his 
dealing  so  kindly  with  me ;  for,  though  such  a  sea- 
son is  a  hindrance,  and  occasions  peculiar  distress, 
I  am  enabled,  nevertheless,  to  turn  my  eyes  to  my 
Great  Deliverer,  who  early  removes  my  burden, 
and  enables  me  lightly  and  joyfully  to  advance,  as 
I  humbly  trust,  in  the  way  everlasting." 

"  December  6.  '  Out  of  the  depths  have  I  cried 
unto  thee,  O  Lord,  and  thou  hast  heard  and  been 
attentive  to  the  voice  of  my  supplications.  In  my 
distress  I  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  hath  delivered 
me  from  all  my  fears  V  After  a  sore  conflict,  fight- 
ing with  many  foes,  and  wrestling  with  God,  I  am 
constrained  to  erect  here  my  Ebenezer,  and  say, 
f  Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  me.'  " 

M  December  7.  How  great  is  the  blessing  of  a 
sound  constitution  !  A  change  is  sometimes  produc- 
ed in  my  feelings  which,  -with  all  my  resolution,  I  am 
unable  to  resist ;  my  apprehensions  are  awakened ; 
but  I  have  learned  not  to  ascribe  every  animal  va- 
riation to  the  agency  of  Satan.  External  things 
affect  the  body,  and  through  it  the  .mind ;  hence, 
may  I  learn  to  distinguish  between  the  influences 
which  are  purely  bodily,  and  the  state,  disposition, 
and  principles  of  the  heart." 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  171 

The  return  of  a  communion  season  was  to  her  a 
matter  of  very  deep  interest.  She  considered  such 
seasons  as  having  the  tendency,  more  than  all  her 
privileges  besides,  to  humble  her  own  heart  in  view 
of  what  Christ  had  suffered,  and  to  present  him 
before  her  as  the  object  of  her  supreme  love.  She 
hesitated  about  asking  the  favor  often,  lest  a  fre- 
quent compliance  with  her  wishes  should  be  a  bur- 
den to  others  ;  and  when  I  proposed  it,  as  I  some- 
times did,  discovering  the  delicate  sensibility  which 
prevented  her  requesting  what  I  knew  she  would 
consider  a  great  favor,  she  would  manifest  the  most 
lively  gratitude,  and  embrace  the  proffered  privilege 
with  a  heart  deeply  affected.  All  who  were  intimate 
with  her  saw  that  on  these  occasions  she  was  great- 
ly benefitted  ;  the  fires  of  her  devotion  were  kindled 
afresh,  and  the  glow  of  her  love  was  more  fervent 
and  intense.  She  was  in  the  habit  of  preparing 
for  such  seasons,  and  also  of  improving  them  with 
great  diligence.  Self-examination  and  prayer  were 
the  employments  of  days  both  before  and  after  the 
delightful  occasion.  The  following  passages  exhi- 
bit the  state  of  her  mind. 

M  December  12.  To-morrow  evening,  if  the  Lord 
will,  I  shall  again  have  access  to  the  ordinance  cf 
the  Lord's  supper.  It  becomes  me  to  examine  my 
title  to  the  bread  of  the  kingdom.  I  would  recall 
my  obligations  to  God,  and  acknowledge  his  signal 


172  MEMOIR  OP 

benefits  from  an  early  period  of  my  life.  I  was  by 
nature  a  child  of  wrath,  even  as  others  ;  but  God 
has  cared  for  me  even  from  my  infant  hours  ;  and 
I  stand  a  monument  of  his  sparing  goodness  as 
well  as  mercy  among  his  visible  people.  He 
makes  me,  through  Jesus  Christ,  a  tender  of  all 
saving  blessings,  and  has,  in  all  things,  certified  his 
readiness  to  become  my  God.  It  was  of  the  Lord's 
goodness  that  I  was  early  made  sensible  of  my  ob- 
ligation ;  and  I  bless  him  for  the  rich  grace  that 
brought  me  to  dedicate  myself  to  a  covenant  God, 
by  coming  out  from  the  world,  and  obeying  the 
command  to  confess  Christ  before  men.  I  have 
taken  again  and  again  the  symbols  of  a  Savior's 
broken  body  and  shed  blood ;  and  thus,  by  an  ap- 
pointed seal,  ratified  my  covenant  with  the  most 
High.  Amazing  condescension  of  the  King  of 
Glory  to  a  worm  of  the  dust !  Wonderful  grace  of 
a  holy  and  just  God  to  an  unworthy,  ungrateful 
rebel !  What  fervent  love,  what  lively  gratitude  to 
him,  should  reign  in  my  heart  !  O,  what  shall  I  ren- 
der to  my  God  for  his  marvellous  kindness  !  Will 
he  deign  to  accept  the  poor  defective  returns  of 
love  and  obedience,  which,  by  his  grace,  I  may  be 
enabled  to  make  ]  He  will.  Then  let  me  renounce 
every  false  way,  and  endeavor  to  walk  in  all  his 
commandments  and  ordinances  blameless.' ' 

December  14.  Among  the  multitude  of  my  mer. 
cies,  I  recognize  the  special  favor  I  enjoyed  last 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  173 

evening  of  joining  with  my  christian  friends  in  the 
worship  of  Jehovah,  and  while  reclining  on  my  bed, 
(as  always  before)  being  permitted  to  enjoy  that 
ordinance  which  is  so  eminently  calculated  to  dis- 
play the  infinite  love  of  God  to  fallen  man.  Most 
deeply  did  I  participate  in  the  comforts  and  bless- 
ings which  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  is  pleased 
to  communicate  to  all  those  who  receive  him,  and 
rest  upon  him  by  faith  and  humble  reliance  for  the 
fulfillment  of  his  many  and  precious  promises. 
Our  pastor  addressed  us  from  Luke,  24  :  26.  *  Ought 
not  Christ  to  have  suffered  these  things,  and  to  en- 
ter into  his  glory  V 

"  Once  more  I  have  publicly  evinced  my  attach- 
ment to  Christ  and  my  union  to  his  church.  O 
that  I  may  walk  more  worthy  of  God ;  more  like 
a  true  disciple  ! 

"  How  should  the  gracious  manifestations  which 
I  receive  from  God  through  these  blessed  means  of 
grace,  inspire  my  heart  with  warm  devotion  and 
love  to  him,  and  excite  me  to  increased  zeal  for  his 
glory  !  I  have  again  renewed  the  dedication  of  my- 
self to  God.  May  I  ever  feel  that  I  am  not  my  own, 
but  that  I  am  bought  with  a  price,  even  with  the 
precious  blood  of  the  Son  of  God.  O  that  I  may 
ever  live  under  the  impression  that  whatever  I  do, 
should  be  done  with  a  single  eye  to  the  glory  of 
God  !  O  Lord,  lead  me  in  the  way  of  truth,  and 
quicken  me  to  holiness,  for  thy  great  name's  sake." 
15*      . 


174  MEMOIR   OF 

"  December  20.  Whence  arises  this  confusion 
in  my  mind  1  Can  aught  but  sin  produce  disorder 
or  distraction  in  the  soul  which  has  once  found  a 
refuge  and  rest  in  the  embraces  of  God,  reconciled 
in  Jesus  Christ  ]  With  grief  I  have  discovered  of 
late  the  workings  of  pride,  self-love,  and  self-will  in 
my  heart ;  and  I  confess  it  with  shame  and  remorse. 
Surely  I  cannot  look  upon  myself 'with  complacen- 
cy and  satisfaction,  when  I  remember  how  much 
yet  remains  unsanctified  within  me  ! 

"Could  I  but  see  more  of  the  exceeding  sinful- 
ness of  sin,  and  how  much  I  have  of  it  yet — could 
I  see  my  extreme  unworthiness  of  the  Divine  favor, 
I  should  only  wonder  and  adore,  when  I  think  of 
the  mercy  which  is  shown  to  such  a  vile  and  guilty 
one  as  I  am. 

"  Show  me,  O  Lord,  the  error  of  my  ways,  and 
'  cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  faults/  May  my  soul 
be  made  pure  by  '  the  washing  of  regeneration 
and  the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost/  and  be  fash- 
ioned after  the  image  of  God.  Remove  pride,  self- 
love,  and  self-will,  O  Lord,  and  let  me  possess  hu- 
mility unfeigned,  the  love  of  Christ  supreme,  and  a 
sweet  and  child-like  subjection  to  the  will  of  God." 

To  her  cousin,  Frances  M ,  in  Bedford,  she 

wrote  on  the  20th  of  January  a  long  and  interest- 
ing letter,  in  which  she  thus  speaks  of  the  gradual 
approach  of  death : 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  175 

"  Though  nothing  in  my  state  of  health  at  pre- 
sent indicates  speedy  dissolution,  yet  I  am  daily 
reminded  by  my  languor  of  the  end  of  all  flesh,  and 
the  way,  also,  in  which  it  comes.  It  is  however 
with  me  a  matter  of  little  concern  whether  my  re- 
maining days  he  few  or  many;  my  greatest  anxiety 
is  to  live,  while  I  live,  to  the  glory  of  God." 

After  speaking  of  her  conflicts  with  sin,  and  her 
state  of  seclusion  from  the  world  as  in  some  re- 
spects profitable,  she  says : 

"  But  a  state  of  seclusion  from  the  world  does 
not  place  us  beyond  the  reach  of  Satan's  wiles  nor 
the  evils  of  our  own  hearts.  In  whatever  condition 
we  may  be  placed,  we  find  ourselves  surrounded 
by  enemies,  and  must  not  be  a  moment  off  our 
guard.  O  what  a  happy  period  will  that  be,  when 
Satan's  kingdom  shall  be  destroyed,  and  universal 
peace  reign,  and  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done,  and 
none  be  found  to  hurt  or  destroy !  The  appointed 
time  draws  near.  The  blessed  Lord,  with  a  strong 
arm,  able  to  do  all  his  will,  reigns  on  earth  as  well 
as  in  heaven.  The  children  of  Zion  may  lift  up 
their  heads,  for  the  day  of  their  redemption  draw- 
eth  nigh.  Earth  and  hell  may  oppose,  but  this  re- 
demption will  come,  for  the  Lord  shall  send  the 
rod  of  his  strength  out  of  Zion,  and  rule  in  the 
midst  of  his  enemies.    The  language  of  God  to  the 


176 


MEMOIR   OF 


church  is,  Awake,  awake  to  duty !  Is  my  dear 
friend  engaged  in  acts  of  christian  benevolence  1 
How  do  your  Bible,  Tract,  and  Missionary  Socie- 
ties prosper  f* 

Again  she  says  of  the  communion  season  she  had 
just  enjoyed  : 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  second  Sabbath  of  last 
month  our  pastor  preached  here,  and  administered 
the  Lord's  supper,  for  my  accommodation.  I  as 
sure  you  it  was  a  precious  and  delightful  season  to 
me ;  I  had  long  thought  I  should  not  ask  such  a 
favor  again ;  and  the  reflection  that  this  was  the 
la3t  season  of  communion  in  the  church  below  that 
I  should  ever  enjoy,  increased  my  desire  for  that 
communion  with  the  saints  above,  which  is  with- 
out interruption  and  without  end." 

Almost  immediately  after  she  became  able  to 
ride  out  in  August,  and  was  permitted  to  visit  the 
residence  of  her  beloved  and  departed  friend  and 
fellow-sufferer,  Julia  Gilbert,  she  was  again  laid 
upon  her  bed,  with  a  renewed  attack  of  unwonted 
violence.  All  that  we  have  presented  from  her  pen 
since*  that  time,  was  written  in  a  state  of  severe 
suffering.  God  in  great  mercy,  about  the  first  of 
February,  so  far  gave  her  ■  relief  once  more  from 
her  pains  and  debility,  that  with  great  care  she  wa3 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  177 

taken  to  a  near  and  highly  esteemed  neighbor's 
once  ;  and  if  I  mistake  not,  it  was  the  last  time  she 
left  her  dwelling  till  she  died,  though  she  lived  a 
year  longer.  Of  this  occurrence  she  speaks  as 
follows : 

"  February  8.    Last  Wednesday  I  rode  to  Capt, 

C 's;   met   with  a  cordial  reception,  and  was 

treated  with  the  greatest  kindness.  May  the  Lord 
reward  them.  May  those  dear  friends  receive  for 
their  kindness  to  one  so  unworthy  the  fulfillment 
of  the  promise,  x  Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto 
the  least  of  these,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me.' 

M  I  feel  myself  under  peculiar  obligations  to  my 
Heavenly  Father  for  having  permitted  me  to  leave 
my  place  of  confinement  again,  although  it  was  not 
without  increased  suffering,  occasioned  by  fatigue. 
Thanks  be  to  God,  I  have  again  returned  to  my 
home  in  safety  and  peace.  I  feel  that  my  obliga- 
tions increase  with  my  strength.  O  what  shall  I 
render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  to  me  1  I 
will  pay  the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving.  '  Teach  me 
to  do  thy  will,  O  Lord,  for  thou  art  my  God ;  thy 
Spirit  is  good ;  lead  me  into  the  land  of  upright- 
ness. Quicken  me,  O  Lord,  for  thy  name's  sake, 
for  I  have  put  my  trust  in  the  Lord  God,  that  I 
may  declare  all  thy  works  !'  " 


178  MEMOIR   OP 


CHAPTER  X. 


A  young  Painter  in  the  city  of  New- York,  of 
fine  talents,  said  to  me,  not  long  since,  M  Sir,  I 
must  stand  at  the  head  of  my  profession — I  am  de- 
termined to  excel — I  am  aiming  high."  I  saw  that 
his  purpose  was  fixed,  for  his  eye  kindled  as  he 
said  it.  And  surely,  as  eternal  realities  outweigh 
the  things  of  time,  the  christian  should  seek  them 
with  more  unwearied  diligence,  and  unshaken  pur- 
pose. It  is  an  attribute  of  true  piety  never  to  rest 
satisfied  with  present  attainments  or  exertions.  None 
who  "  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord"  suppose  they 
"  have  already  attained ;  but  this  one  thing  they 
do,  forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before, 
they  press  toward  the  mark,  for  the  prize  of  the 
high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."  Such  is  the 
nature  of  the  soul,  as  immortal,  that  it  will  always 
press  forward  in  pursuit  of  its  supreme  object,  what- 
ever that  may  be.  Even  in  a  state  of  alienation 
from  God,  while  striving  to  satisfy  the  soul  from 
this  world's  fountains,  how  often  have  we  been 
wearied  with  its  ceaseless  importunity  for  more 
substantial  food.  And  under  the  influence  of  holy 
principles,  the  fountains  of  our  spiritual  supply 
satisfy  us,  only  because  they  are  exhaustless ;  for 


HANNAH    HOBDIE.  179 

every  time  we  taste  them,  we  find  our  appetite 
keener  and  our  relish  greater.  The  soul  is  called 
out  in  the  exercise  of  its  noblest  powers,  and  led 
onward,  and  onward,  continually  crying,  "  Then 
shall  I  he  satisfied,  when  I  awake  ivith  thy  likeness  /" 
When  the  desire  of  the  soul  is  fixed  on  God,  it  can 
never  rest  satisfied  so  long  as  there  is  any  thing  to 
learn  of  his  perfections,  or  any  thing  undone  that 
will  promote  his  glory. 

In  reviewing  the  history  of  this  devoted  female, 
the  reader  may  have  often  exclaimed,  O  that  I 
could  feel  as  she  did,  and  reach  her  attainments  ! 
But  he  will  find  her  still  pressing  forward.  She  de- 
sired to  look  deeper  into  f  the  mystery  of  godli- 
ness ;'  to  drink  deeper  of  its  spirit,  and  to  claim  a 
closer  fellowship  with  all  holy  beings  in  doingvgood. 
Her  journal  thus  continues  : 

,(  Lord's  day,  February  14.  Awake,  O  my  soul ; 
lift  up  thyself  in  thankfulness  to  God  that  he  hath 
given  thee  another  golden  season :  stir  thyself  up 
to  improve  it ;  consider  it  may  be  thy  last  I  May  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lord,  who  hath  sanctified  this  day, 
sanctify  it  to  my  benefit,  and  make  it  a  blessing  to 
my  soul,  that  I  may  be  furthered  on  my  heavenly 
way." 

"  March  6.  A  little  improvement  in  my  health 
calls  expressly  for  more  diligence  in  the  service  of 
cny  blessed  Master — for  increasing  exertion  to  pro- 


180  MEMOIR  of 

mote  the  best  good  of  my  own  soul  and  the  BOttfa 
of  others.  I  do  indeed  bless  God  for  the  measure 
of  an  awakening  spirit  which  he  has  recently  given 
me ;  but  I  am  still  amazingly  indolent,  and  some- 
times fear  that  I  shall  incur  the  doom  of  the  unpro- 
fitable servant.  I  desire  to  grow  in  grace  and  in 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth ;  and  to  this  end  I  give 
myself  unto  prayer,  not  only  three  but  Jour  and 
Jive  times  in  a  day.  I  love  by  prayer  and  thanks- 
giving to  make  known  my  requests  unto  God.  I 
read  and  meditate  upon  his  holy  word ;  and  am  led 
to  inquire  in  what  way  my  devotion  may  be  ren- 
dered more  fervent,  more  permanent,  and  conse- 
quently more  profitable.  O  that  the  Lord  would 
incline  me  to  the  practice  of  that  holy  diligence 
which  the  interests  of  eternity  demand.  I  feel  the 
power  of  indwelling  sin  ;  the  Lord  grant  that  as  sin 
has  abounded,  grace  may  much  more  abound ;  and 
henceforth  reign  in  my  heart  through  righteousness, 
unto  eternal  life,  by  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  May 
the  Lord  assist  me  in  the  proper  government  of  my 
thoughts ;  may  the  Holy  Spirit  direct  me  and  reign 
in  my  inmost  spirit, 

"  At  present  my  anxieties  relate  to  the  salvation 
of  my  near  relations.  I  K  long  after  them  in  the 
bowels  of  Jesus  Christ.'  I  long  for  the  conversion 
of  those  of  them  that  are  yet  enemies  of  God ;  and 
pray  for  the  sanctification  of  such  as  profess  to  love 
Mbw   O  most  gracious  God,  if  I  am  to  be  instru- 


HANNAH     HOBBIE.  181 

mental  in  their  salvation  otherwise  than  by  ray 
prayers,  I  entreat  of  thee,  for  thy  name's  sake,  de- 
lay not  to  give  me  strength,  and  influence  my  heart 
to  do  what  is  necessary  for  the  blessed  work.  O 
may  my  parents  consider  their  awful  responsibility, 
and  bring  up  all  their  children  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord  ;  teach  them  the  fear  of 
the  Lord,  set  before  them  a  holy  example,  watch 
over  them,  pray  for  them,  and  give  themselves  no 
rest,  until  Christ  be  formed  in  them,  the  hope  of 
glory.  Will  the  Lord  be  with  my  dear  brothers  and 
sisters,  dispose  their  young  minds  to  receive  the 
truth,  and  by  an  early  conversion  may  they  be 
saved  from  youthful  follies,  and  all  sin,  and  be  made 
pillars  in  the  temple  of  our  God,  and  in  covenant 
love  become  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the  Lord 
Almighty/ y 

Christian  reader,  mark  what  she  says  upon  the 
subject  of  a  profession  of  religion  : 

M  March  29.  When  we  separate  ourselves  from 
the  world,  and  declare  ourselves  to  be  on  the  Lord's 
side,  the  woild  expects  to  see  us  distinguished  by 
our  good  woiks.  But  alas  !  how  often  is  it  justly 
said  of  those  professing  godliness,  \  What  do  ye 
more  than  others  V  Shall  I  be  reckoned  among 
them  ?  God  forbid.  I  will  even  dare  to  be  singu- 
lar, that  I  may  thus  glorify  my  heavenly  Father. 

H.Hobbie.  16 


182  MEMOIR    OF 

Through  grace  I  will  rise  above  the  world,  and  ex- 
ercise myself,  and  employ  my  strength  and  talents 
in  seeking  the  salvation  of  sinners.  O  may  I  rise  in 
"holy  emulation,  and  labor  to  glorify  the  name,  and 
magnify  the  grace,  of  my  adorable  Savior,  and 
show  myself  eminent  for  love  and  good  works !" 

f<  April  5.  My  heart  rejoices  in  the  Lord.  Be- 
cause I  have  put  my  trust  in  the  Lord,  therefore  he 
is  to  me  a  faithful  Friend  and  a  compassionate  Re- 
deemer. In  sickness  and  distress  the  Lord  is  my 
strength,  and  my  joy  and  consolation,  from  day  to 
day,  are  equal  to  my  tribulation.  Surely  the  eye  of 
the  Lord  is  upon  them  that  fear  him — upon  them 
that  hope  in  his  mercy,  to  deliver  their  soul  from 
death.  The  Lord  redeemeth  the  souls  of  his  ser- 
vants, and  none  that  trust  in  him  shall  be  desolate. 

"  The  tender  mercies  of  God  have  been  over  me 
in  another  season  of  severe  suffering.  Though  great- 
ly debilitated,  I  still  retain  the  privilege  of  reading 
.  a  little  daily,  and,  thanks  be  to  G-od,  I  still  enjoy 
communion  with  the  Father,  Son,  and  Spirit.  In  the 
multitude  of  my  thoughts  within  me,  the  comforts 
of  God  delight  my  soul." 

"  April  16.  I  am  exceeding  weak ;  therefore  I 
resolve  to  wait  upon  the  Lord,  that  my  strength 
may  be  renewed." 

"  April  26.  Seven  years  this  day  since  the  Lord 
laid  me  upon  a  bed  of  sickness.  But  as  a  father 
chasteneth  his  son  so  has  a  merciful  and  gracious 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  183 

God  chastised  me.  I  remember  all  the  way  in 
which  he  has  led  me  these  seven  years,  to  humble 
me,  and  prove  me,  and  show  what  was  in  my  heart. 
And  O  how  great  is  the  good  which  he  has  done 
unto  me  in  my  latter  days !  The  Lord  redeemeth 
my  life  from  destruction ;  he  crowneth  me  with 
loving-kindness  and  tender  mercy,  and  satisfieth 
me  with  good  things,  so  that  my  youth  is  renewed 
like  the  eagle's. 

"  Insensible  as  I  am,  I  wonder  and  am  amazed 
at  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God,  which  follow 
me  day  by  day.  I  am  most  ungrateful.  For  several 
weeks  I  have  been  quite  subject  to  coldness  of 
heart.  Perhaps  weakness  of  body  may  in  some 
measure  occasion  it.  I  thank  God  that  such  sea- 
sons are  short ;  yet  this  has,  of  late,  produced  fear- 
ful apprehensions  lest  I  shall  not  enjoy  the  free 
exercise  of  my  mental  faculties  through  the  future 
season  of  decaying  nature,  especially  in  my  last 
moments.  I  wish  to  live  a  holy  and  godly  life,  and 
to  glorify  God  in  a  triumphant  death.  Shall  I  never 
more  enjoy  the  comforts  and  privileges  of  a  healthy 
constitution  ]  Such  a  consumption  is  trying  to  my 
sinful  nature ;  but  through  grace  it  is  rendered  to- 
lerable, and  even  desirable,  if  the  consumption  de- 
creed do  but  overflow  with  righteousness.  Deliver 
me,  O  Lord,  at  last,  lest  the  enemy  say,  the  Lord 
was  not  able  to  bring  her  to  the  promised  land.  O 
leave  me  not  in  the  midst  of  this  wilderness  to  pe- 


184  MEMOIR    OF 

rish  !  O  let  the  light  of  thy  countenance  be  ever 
upon  me  !  A  dead,  cold  heart  is  my  burden.  Then 
let  me  ever  be  enabled  to  look  up  to  Christ,  my 
High  Priest,  who  is  merciful  to  bear  with  my  in- 
firmities, and  who  is  mighty  to  help  them.,, 

The  following  letter  to  an  uncle  in  the  city  of 
New- York  exhibits  the  deep  movings  of  her  soul  for 
the  salvation  of  her  kindred  : 

"  Northeast,  June  13,  1830. 

"  Much  respected  Sir, — Whatever  duty  I  owe 
to  my  distant  friends,  my  only  resource  is  that  of 
writing ;  I  can  discharge  my  obligations  in  no  other 
way.  Yet  in  this  way  I  feel  that  I  can  but  imper- 
fectly perform  my  duty  to  my  uncle.  I  never  can 
remunerate  him  for  his  great  kindness  to  me.  The 
Lord  will  surely  give,  (though  I  cannot,)  a  recom- 
pense of  reward  to  such  as  show  kindness  to  the 
least  of  his  servants.  I  desire  to  look  to  Him,  who, 
in  infinite  compassion,  bears  with  the  infirmities  of 
his  people,  that  at  this  time  he  would  be  pleased  to 
bear  with  mine,  and  help  them,  so  that  I  may  speak 
acceptably  and  effectually  to  my  respected  uncle 
and  friend. 

"  Having  of  late  become  deeply  interested  espe- 
cially for  the  eternal  welfare  of  my  dear  relatives, 
I  have  regretted  that  I  could  no  oftener  hear  from 
them.    I  have  especially  desired  to  hear  whether 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  185 

my  more  than  daily  prayers  have  been  answered  in 
the  conversion  of  my  uncle.  Were  I  to  be  assured 
that  he  was  yet  a  stranger  to  God,  0  how  would  it 
grieve  my  heart !  how  would  it  quicken  my  desire 
that  the  Lord  would  bring  him  nigh  by  the  blood 
of  Christ.  He  is  advancing  in  life ;  his  days  and 
years,  which  will  return  to  him  no  more,  are  swift- 
ly passing  away ;  and  is  my  dear  uncle  yet  in  a  state 
of  carnal  security  ]  Is  there  not  cause  for  increas- 
ing alarm  %  Does  he  apprehend  no  danger  ]  Does 
he  not  know  that  G-od  has  called  aloud  upon  him 
often,  both  by  mercies  and  judgments ;  by  his  pro- 
vidence and  grace  ;  and  is  yet  calling  ]  Does  he  not 
hear  daily  reiterated  the  sweet  invitation  of  mercy, 
enforced  by  the  strivings  of  the  Spirit,  Come  to 
Christ  I  Come  to  Christ  ?  There  is  no  other  re- 
fuge ;  and  thanks  be  to  God,  thou  needest  no  other, 
to  shelter  thee  from  the  storm  that  is  coming:,  or  to 
hide  thee  from  the  vengeance  of  the  judgment . 
Soon  the  great  day  of  God's  wrath  will  come,  and 
who  shall  be  able  to  stand  ]  O  to  flee  the  wrath  to 
come  !  To  come  !  How  will  the  sinner,  after  suf- 
fering thousands  and  millions  of  years,  cry  out,  O 
to  be  delivered  from  the  wrath  that  is  yet  to  come  ! 
M  Painful  indeed  is  the  sinner's  prospect ;  and 
how  can  I  endure  the  thought  that  one  of  my  kin- 
dred should  perish  !  O  that  they  may  all  be  renew- 
ed by  grace,  glorify  God  on  earth,  be  faithful  unto 
death,  and  at  last  be  received  up  to  glory  ! 
16* 


186  MEMOIR   OF 

M  Give  my  love  to  aunt  H ,  and  tell  her  I  wish 

to  thank  her  for  all  she  has  don^e  for  me. 
"  With  much  esteem  I  subscribe  myself, 
"  Your  dutiful  niece, 

e  Hannah  Hobbie." 

The  next  day  she  entered  in  her  journal  the  fol- 
lowing record : 

"  June  14.  Yesterday  my  heart  was  again  cheer- 
with  the  preached  Gospel.  I  feel  reproved  for  my 
former  unbelief.  I  had  ceased  to  believe  that  the 
Gospel  preached  in  this  place  would  have  any 
saving  effect  ;  but  at  this  time  the  Lord  was  pleased 
to  pour  out  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication 
upon  his  children,  at  least  some  of  them  ;  and  a 
spirit  of  utterance  was  given  to  our  dear  minister, 
who  opened  his  mouth  boldly,  making  known  unto 
us  the  mysteries  of  the  Gospel.  It  was  an  enliv- 
ening and  animating  discourse  from  Eph.  5  :  4. 
1  Awake,  thou  that  sleepest,  and  arise  from  the 
dead  ;  and  Christ  shall-  give  thee  light.'  He  de- 
scribed first,  the  state  of  the  wicked ;  then  spoke 
of  the  propriety  of  the  call ;  and  lastly,  adverted  to 
the  promise,  O  how  was  the  professed  christian 
who  dared  to  slumber  over  eternal  things  urged  to 
awake,  and  arise  and  shake  himself  from  the  dust, 
and  not  put  his  light  under  a  bushel,  but  do  good  in 
the  world  I    Nor  less  urgent  was  the  call  to  those 


HANNAH  HOBBIE.  187 

f  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins/  The  word  was  ren- 
dered powerful,  and  we  have  reason  to  believe 
reached  the  hearts  of  many.  Especially  did  the 
Spirit  carry  it  home  to  the  hearts  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

P .     O  may  the  word  prove  a  savor  of  life 

unto  life,  and  not  of  death  unto  death.  Sister  J , 

also,  again  appears  much  impressed  with  a  sense  of 
guilt.  God  forbid  that  she  should  resist  the  striv- 
ings of  the  Spirit !  May  she  now  give  her  youthful 
heart  to  God  !  O  may  she  now  accept  of  mercyr 
lest  it  should  be  for  ever  too  late  !  O  let  the  harp 
of  God's  children  be  taken  down  from  the  willows, 
and  tuned  to  the  praise  of  Him  who  hath  remem- 
bered us  in  our  low  estate  !  and  O  that  what  our 
eyes  have  seen,  and  our  hearts  felt,  of  the  love  and 
power  of  God  since  yesterday's  meeting,  may  be 
but  as  a  few  drops  before  a  plenteous  shower  upon 
this  parched  land.  O  that  from  henceforth  righ- 
teousness may  run  down  our  streets  like  a  river, 
and  sinners  be  seen  flocking  to  Jesus  as  a  cloud  ! 
Remember.  O  Lord,  Jacob  thy  redeemed,  and  Israel 
thy  chosen,  and  bring  thy  people  from  the  east,  and 
gather  them  from  the  west :  Say  unto  the  north, 
give  up,  and  to  the  south,  keep  not  back ;  bring 
thy  sons  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  from  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  May  all  be  made  one  in  Christ,  and 
in  him  be  blessed  for  ever  !  Amen." 

M  June  23.     Truly  thy  mercy  is  upon  us,  O  Lord, 
according  as  we  trust  in  thee.     Alas  !  what  am  I, 


188  MEMOIR   OF 

or  what  is  my  father's  house,  that  we  should  thus  be 
visited.  Rejoice,  O  my  soul,  and  be  glad  in  the 
Lord  !  I  will  call  upon  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  with- 
in me,  to  bless  God  for  his  goodness,  in  calling 
another  beloved  sister  from  darkness  to  light,  and 
from  the  power  of  Satan  to  God.  Most  gracious 
God,  wilt  thou  continue  to  bless  us  as  a  family,  and 
satisfy  us  all  early  with  thy  mercy,  that  we  may  be 
glad  and  rejoice  in  Thee  all  our  days  on  earth,  and 
then  go  to  praise  Thee  and  the  Lamb  in  a  world  of 
blessedness  for  ever'?" 

We  come  now  to  the  formation  of  her  Sabbath 
school.  The  neighborhood  where  her  father  resid- 
ed was  some  miles  distant  from  the  centre  of  either 
of  the  surrounding  congregations,  and  many  of 
the  children  were  not  connected  with  any  Sabbath 
school.  A  view  of  this  destitution  deeply  affected 
her  heart,  and  long  and  faithfully  did  she  strive  to 
incite  others  to  undertake  the  enterprise,  but  in 
vain.  Believing  it  to  be  a  duty  for  some  one,  and 
finding  others  faithless  respecting  its  success,  she 
cast  herself,  in  her  weakness  and  feebleness,  upon 
God,  and  put  her  own  hand  to  the  work.  Hear 
her  own  language : 

"  June  24.  A  serious  consideration  of  the  poor 
and  perishing  condition  of  most  of  the  children  in 
this  neighborhood  has  led  me  to  say  much  by  way 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  1S9 

of  argument  and  persuasion  to  induce  some  of  my 
christian  friends  to  establish  a  Sabbath  school  for 
their  moral  and  religious  improvement ;  but  no  one 
seems  to  feel  the  necessity  of  such  a  measure 
enough  to  submit  to  the  self-denial  requisite  for  the 
undertaking.  Therefore,  receiving  encouragement 
from  God,  and  being  continually  strengthened  in 
my  design,  I  have  concluded,  with  my  sister's  as- 
sistance, to  invite  the  children  into  my  room,  where 
I  may  myself  communicate  that  knowledge  and  in- 
struction which  alone  can  make  them  good  and 
useful  members  of  society,  and  prepare  them  for  a 
better  world  above. 

M  O  that  I  might  enter  upon  the  work  with  a 
heart  warm  with  the  vitality  of  godliness !  May 
the  Spirit  of  all  grace  fill  my  mind  with  heavenly 
wisdom,  and  inspire  my  heart  with  love,  zeal,  con- 
fidence, and  hope  !  O  Thou  who  art  my  continual 
strength  and  my  gracious  Redeemer,  I  give  my- 
self to  thee  in  the  work !  If  thou  art  pleased  to 
make  me  instrumental  in  delivering  the  soul  of  my 
neighbor's  child  from  a  state  of  darkness,  igno- 
rance, and  misery,  unto  thy  name  be  all  the  glory. 
And  from  this  time,  whenever  thou  dost  call  me  to 
duty,  I  beseech  thee  to  give  me  a  willing  mind,  and 
supply  me  with  every  thing  necessary  to  promote 
thy  glory." 

Here  we  see  a  humble  female,  worn  down  by 


190  MEMOIR   OF 

3 

disease  and  suffering,  girding  herself  to  a  work 
which  those  who  were  in  health  had  not  courage  to 
undertake,  gathering  up  the  miserable  remnants  of 
her  shattered  constitution,  that  they  might  all  be 
concentrated  in  one  more  effort  to  do  good  before 
she  should  be  taken  from  the  field  of  labor,  throw- 
ing her  whole  soul  into  her  Masters  service,  and 
rejoicing  that  she  was  still  permitted  to  be  in  some 
degree  useful. 

This  school  was  superintended  by  herself,  (except 
when  her  health  entirely  prevented,)  every  Sabbath 
in  her  chamber.  She  would  call  up  the  children  one 
after  another  to  her  bed-side,  and  give  them,  in  the 
most  earnest  and  feeling  manner,  instruction  in  the 
things  of  Christ ;  and  her  labors,  it  is  believed, 
were  not  in  vain. 

How  deeply  interesting !  how  affecting  to  see 
her  thus  forgetting  herself  and  her  sorrows  in  the 
delightful  employment  of  instructing  these  young 
and  tender  minds  into  the  truth,  and  making  efforts 
to  win  their  souls  to  Christ  !  She  would  pray  with 
them  after  these  instructions,  before  dismissing 
them,  while  the  hectic  flush  was  glowing  upon  her 
cheek,  and  throwing  out  its  rosy  bloom  to  tell  us 
of  an  early  grave.  That  "plague-spot !" — I  have 
seen  it  too  often,  and  in  too  many  interesting  cases, 
soon  to  forget  the  feelings  it  always  gives  me. 

This  labor  was  to  her  no  burden  ;  her  heart  was 
in  it ;  she  loved  her  work,  and  delighted  to  give  to 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  191 

it  her  remaining  strength.  She  continued  as  long 
as  she  was  able  this  labor  of  love  as  well  as  others, 
and  gave  them  up,  one  after  another,  with  the 
greatest  reluctance,  when  she  could  do  no  more. 

I  was  greatly  affected  one  day,  not  long  before 
she  died,  to  hear  her  request  to  her  sister, — M  Eliza, 
will  you  be  kind  enough  to  collect  all  my  Sabbath- 
school  books  together,  and  put  them  in  my  little 
trunk  ;  I  may  possibly  need  them  yet."  She  never 
needed  them  again. 

I  love  Sabbath-school  i,  and  I  bless  God  that  I  live 
in  their  day.  They  work  their  healing  influences 
into  the  very  germ  ex  human  misery,  and  correct 
at  the  fountain  head  the  bitter  streams  of  evil 
which  have  overran  the  world.  They  pluck  away 
the  incubus  from  the  bosom  of  society ;  and  send 
continually  their  tribute  of  sanctified  recruits,  in  the 
very  morning  of  life,  to  swell  the  armies  of  the 
Lord.  On  these  accounts  I  love  Sabbath  schools ; 
but  none  with  which  I  have  ever  been  acquainted 
has,  under  all  circumstances,  interested  me  as  much 
as  Hannah  Hobbie's  :  it  exhibited  so  much  of  the 
power  of  christian  principle ;  and  exemplified  so 
happily,  in  all  its  native  loveliness,  the  spirit  of  ac- 
tive and  diffusive  benevolence,  which  is  the  chris- 
tian^ brightest  ornament. 

Such  instances  of  consecration  to  the  Master's 
work,  and  unreserved  devotion  to  his  service,  will 
condemn  many  a  professed  disciple  at  the  Judg- 


192  MEMOIR   OF 

ment,  who,  in  the  possession  of  health,  excuse 
themselves  from  effort  by  the  plea  that  they  can  do 
nothing.     Let  them  try.  as  she  did. 


CHAPTER  XL 


Having  made  an  appointment  to  preach  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Hobbie,  I  went  to  fulfil  it.  It  was  near 
the  close  of  June,  and  the  day  was  unusually  plea- 
sant, even  for  that  delightful  season  of  the  year. 
Every  thing  around  me,  as  I  rode  along,  indicated 
the  smiles  of  a  beneficent  Providence. 

It  is  cheering  to  look  out  upon  the  landscape  at 
any  season ;  God  speaks  to  us  through  his  works. 
But  at  this  time  the  call  to  remember  him  was  more 
distinct  and  forcible.  He  was  scattering  abroad  his 
bountiful  supplies  for  man  and  beast,  and  spread- 
ing over  all  the  richest  beauties. 

It  was  near  mid-day  when,  after  having  passed 
the  church,  I  entered  the  valley  of  which  I  have 
before  spoken.  A  little  brook,  issuing  from  the  hills 
before  me,  gently  rippled  by,  winding  its  way 
through  a  narrow  grove  of  great  beauty,  which 
overhung,  for  a  short  distance,  the  right  side  of  the 
road.    Into  this  shady  and  cool  seclusion  the  little 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  193 

birds,  after  their  morning  songs  of  praise,  had  re- 
tired to  escape  the  heat  of  the  summer  sun ;  and 
sat,  lazily  drooping  their  wings,  upon  the  lower 
branches  of  the  trees,  and  upon  the  willows  and 
hazels  which  tufted  the  banks  of  the  stream.  All 
was  solitude  and  silence,  save  the  whispers  of  the 
breeze  and  the  hammering  of  the  wood-pecker,  as 
he  clung  to  the  side  of  the  decaying  limb,  and 
pierced  it  for  his  prey,  and  now  and  then  the  short, 
clear  note  of  the  red-bird,  as  he  sat  calling  to  his 
fellow. 

The  varying  prospect,  as  I  rode  onward,  awaken- 
ed grateful  emotions  to  the  great  Giver  of  all  our 
mercies.  The  meadow-grounds,  on  every  hand, 
were  buried  deep  beneath  their  luxuriant  burdens ; 
some  of  them  gaily  tinted  with  the  rich  red  of  the 
clover-blossom.  The  young  corn,  recently  cleared 
from  intruding  weeds,  drew  out  its  long  and  ver- 
dant lines  of  beauty  and  promise,  to  cheer  the  heart 
of  the  husbandman  and  tell  him  of  the  coming  plen- 
ty. Large  patches  of  wheat,  not  yet  whitened  for  the 
reaper's  sickle,  stretched  across  the  valley  and  up 
the  hill-sides,  over  which  the  mimic  waves,  in  rapid 
and  restless  pursuit,  were  chasing  each  other  from 
the  field,  like  successive  generations. 

I  wondered  how  any  could  gather  up  this  rich 
profusion  of  bounties,  and  forget,  and  sin  against 
the  Being  who  was  bestowing  them ;  especially  as 
he  was  mingling  so  much  beauty  with  the  portion ; 

H.  Hobble.  17 


194  MEMOIR   OF 

throwing  in  the  rose,  and  the  lilly,  and  the  violet, 
with  the  countless  flowers  of  the  field,  and  the  song 
of  the  bird,  to  sweeten  for  man  the  cup  of  life — to 
relieve  the  monotony  of  his  toil,  and  cheer  him  in 
the  hours  of  his  weariness. 

After  winding  my  way  up  the  range  of  hills  to 
the  right,  I  left  the  highway  which  led  around  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  highest  point  of  eleva- 
tion, and  took,  as  I  often  did  when  on  horseback,  a 
by-path,  which  passed  directly  over  the  summit. 
Many  acres  of  the  shrub-oak,  scarcely  rising  to  the 
stirrup,  surmounted  the  height,  interlacing  their 
branches  so  closely  as  to  form  an  impenetrable  bar- 
rier on  either  hand, — the  habitation  of  the  sparrow, 
and  the  burrow  of  the  rabbit. 

From  the  eastern  side  of  the  hill  a  most  magni- 
ficent view  presented  itself.  None  possessing  a  taste 
for  the  beauties  or  grandeur  of  natural  scenery  ever 
visit  that  spot  and  come  away  unrequited.  The 
vast  landscape  was  clothed  in  the  richness  of  its 
summer  luxuriance.  A  long  line  of  rolling  surface 
extended  to  the  north,  bounded  at  the  distance  of 
thirty  miles  by  the  towering  hills  of  Massachusetts. 
In  the  northeast,  a  branch  of  the  Taghkannuc  moun- 
tains threw  up  its  bold  and  majestic  outline  upon 
the  clear  blue  sky.  It  seemed,  as  I  gazed  upon  it,  as 
if  the  foot  of  man  had  never  climbed  its  rocky  ram- 
parts, nor  ventured  upon  the  wildness  of  its  soli- 
tudes to  wake  the  sleeping  echo  in  its  forests,  or 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  195 

disturb  the  sullen  serpent  and  call  forth  the  warn- 
ing of  his  rattle. 

Beneath  me,  on  a  gentle  swell  of  land  which 
broke  the  regular  declivity  of  the  hill,  a  little  to  the 
left,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  lay  the  dwelling 
of  Hannah.  It  was  one  of  those  antique  structures 
reared  by  another  generation,  who  considered  du- 
rability the  principal  excellence  of  architecture,  and 
taste  as  having  little  connection  with  substantial 
comfort.  The  long,  low  front,  looking  towards  the 
south,  presented  a  door  in  the  centre,  with  two  win- 
dows on  the  right  and  one  on  the  left.  In  the  western 
end  were  two  windows  below  and  two  smaller  ones 
in  the  attic ;  the  northern  slope  of  the  roof  some- 
what the  longest,  while  the  heavy  square  chimney 
crowded  up  through  the  centre,  a  sufficient  protec- 
tion to  the  frame-work  against  any  wind  that  might 
blow.  The  room  in  the  southwest  corner  was  ap- 
propriated to  the  sick  inmate ;  the  window  on  the 
south  close  by  the  head  of  her  bed,  and  that  on  the 
west  at  its  foot.  Here  she  communed  with  God — 
here  she  wrote  her  journal  and  letters — here  she 
taught  her  Sabbath-school — here  for  years  she  suf- 
fered, and  here  at  last  she  died. 

A  little  to  the  south  of  the  house,  and  beyond  the 
sloping  lawn  in  front  of  it,  two  woody  eminences 
arose  gracefully  from  the  valley  on  either  hand. 
The  opening  between  them  presented  an  extensive 
view  of  a  richly  cultivated  country  to  the  eastward, 


196  MEMOIR    OF 

scooped  out  for  a  great  distance  between  the  beau 
tiful  hills  of  Sharon  and  Salisbury.    Over  this  pleas- 
ing expanse  the  eye  wandered,  till,  through  a  wide 
gap  in  the  intervening  mountains,  it  rested  upon  a 
far  distant  range  in  the  interior  of  Connecticut. 

Southeast  lay  the  Sharon  mountain,  checkered 
with  fences  to  its  very  summit,  sweeping  around  to 
the  right  in  a  long  and  curving  line  of  beauty  and 
richness,  seldom  equalled  in  any  landscape,  until  it 
lost  itself,  nearly  twenty  miles  to  the  southward, 
behind  the  range  upon  which  I  was  standing.  Mid- 
way up  its  side,  as  if  slumbering  upon  its  lap,  lay 
the  village  of  Sharon,  at  the  distance  of  six  miles, 
canopied  by  the  soft  cloud  of  smoke  sent  up  from 
its  hundred  chimnies  ;  while  the  tall  spire  that  rose 
in  the  midst  of  its  clustering  group  of  dwellings, 
seemed  to  offer  the  protection  of  heaven  to  all,  and 
to  promise  the  throng  that  gathered  under  it  skow- 
ers  of  blessings  upon  them,  and  upon  their  children 
after  them.  Over  this  wide  field  of  richness  and 
beauty,  in  every  direction,  flocks  of  sheep  and  herds 
of  cattle  were  feeding  in  the  green  pastures  or  re- 
clining in  the  shade,  till  they  became  mere  specks 
in  the  distance.  Trees  of  every  form  and  size,  sin- 
gly and  in  clumps,  and  sometimes  in  small  tracts  of 
woodland,  gave  variety  and  grace  to  the  scene 
throughout  its  whole  extent. 

As  my  eye  passed  with  delight  from  one  part  to 
another  of  these  works  of  God,  and  rested  at  length 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  197 

upon  the  dwelling  of  the  suffering  but  rejoicing 
subject  of  divine  grace  I  was  about  to  visit,  it  re- 
quired but  little  effort  of  the  imagination  to  realize 
the  bold  and  striking  imagery  of  Isaiah,  and  antici- 
pate the  blessedness  of  that  day,  when  M  the  moun- 
tains and  the  hills  shall  break  forth"  before  the  be- 
liever "  into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field 
shall  clap  their  hands.' ' 

I  had  that  day  the  opportunity  of  much  conver- 
sation with  Hannah.  I  found  that  she  was  aiming 
more  obviously  than  ever  at  active  employment  in 
the  Lord's  work.  She  felt  that  her  time  was  short, 
and  was  in  haste  to  occupy  the  talent  entrusted  to 
her.  She  seemed  unusually  anxious  to  get  near  to 
God ;  but  I  found  that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  in- 
quiring at  his  feet  what  more  she  could  do  to  serve 
him,  and  asking  strength  to  perform  it.  Especially 
was  she  anxious  for  the  salvation  of  her  kindred, 
and  greatly  rejoiced  in  the  recent  conversion  of  her 
sister  Jane.  Weak  as  she  was,  I  discovered  that  she 
was  making  her  life  a  busy  one.  Of  our  meeting 
this  evening  she  thus  speaks  : 

"  June  26.  Again  has  the  Gospel  been  pro- 
claimed in  this  house.  Once  more  have  the  people 
of  this  neighborhood  been  exhorted  to  awake  from 
their  slumber  in  sin,  and  give  themselves  no  rest 
until  they  have  found  a  dwelling  in  their  hearts  for 
the  Spirit  of  God.  But  alas  !  the  Lord  was  not  with 
17* 


198  MEMOIR    OF 

us  in  power  as  he  was  at  the  last  meeting.  Will  he 
indeed  withhold  his  saving  mercy  from  us  ]  Will 
he  not  continue  his  divine  work  still,  and  add  yet 
more  to  the  recent  trophies  of  his  grace  %  Out  of 
many,  shall  we  see  no  more  turning  to  God  ]  Poor 
deluded  mortals,  will  ye  not  take  warning  and 
live  !    The  Lord  pity  and  save  I" 

During  the  present  season  she  wrote  an  unusual 
number  of  letters  to  her  friends.  Indeed,  all  that 
she  had  it  in  her  heart  to  do  was  now  pursued  with 
vigor  and  perseverance.  Her  efforts  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls,  for  the  promotion  of  the  benevolent 
associations  with  which  she  was  connected,  and  es- 
pecially to  prepare  herself  to  superintend  well  her 
Sabbath  school,  and  to  give  the  children  suitable 
instruction,  were  greatly  increased. 

To  her  cousin,  J H H ,  in  New- 
York,  who  had  recently  determined  to  enter  upon 
a  course  of  study  with  a  view  to  the  Gospel  minis- 
try, she  writes,  July  6,  1830  : 

tr  May  the  Lord  in  his  good  pleasure  favor  your 
design,  and  make  you  the  honored  instrument  of 
bringing  thousands,  who  might  otherwise  perish,  to 
know  the  Lord.  Your  late  visit  to  us  will  long  be 
remembered  with  pleasure  ;  but  you  must  have 
been  pained  to  see  how  cold  were  this  people. 
Happily  you  found  better  things  when  you  return- 


HANMH    HOBBIE.  199 

ed  to  your  Sabbath-school  in  New-York,  for  I  learn 
that  the  Lord  of  glory  had  just  begun  to  pour  out 
his  Spirit  upon  it  to  convert  young  sinners.  I  can 
now  tell  you  that  even  here,  also,  the  Lord's  ear  is 
not  heavy,  neither  is  his  arm  shortened.  His  salva- 
tion has  come  nigh  unto  us,  even  us,  also.  Yes,  my 
dear  cousin,  sister  Jane  and  others  have  been  hope- 
fully converted  to  God.  I  have  heard,  also,  of  two  or 
three  conversions  in  another  part  of  our  Society. 
The  church  seems  awaking.  We  humbly  trust  our 
sky,  so  long  dark,  will  ere  long  become  brighter. 

0  that  the  day  may  speedily  break  upon  us  !  O  my 
friend,  will  you  not  pray  God  to  bless  this  part  of 
his  Zion,  heal  the  backslidings  of  his  people,  pass 
by  our  iniquities,  and  enlarge  our  borders  ] 

M  At  present  my  health  is  not  as  good  as  when 
you  left  us.  I  have,  however,  after  encountering 
many  difficulties,  commenced  a  Sabbath-school, 
which,  with  the  aid  of  my  sisters  J and  M 

1  hope  to  continue.  I  thank  God,  at  least,  for 
giving  me  feelings  of  compassion  towards  the  chil- 
dren around  me,  most  of  whom,  I  have  reason  to 
believe,  have  little  religious  knowledge,  and  for 
enabling  me  to  use  my  endeavors  to  rescue  them 
from  their  present  ignorance  and  sin,  and  conse- 
quent misery.  I  am  grieved  to  find  christians  so 
indifferent  on  this  subject.  O  that  the  Lord  would 
arise  and  plead  his  own  cause  in  behalf  of  these 
perishing  children ! 


SOO  MEMOIR  OF 

M  I  have  been  informed  that  another  Sunday- 
school  is  to  be  organized  next  Sabbath  in  the 
school  district  west  of  us ;  then  we  shall  number 
three  schools  in  our  society,  besides  that  at  the 
church.  I  wish  you  to  procure  me  some  Sunday 
school  books,  such  as  you  think  we  need." 

(To  the  same.) 

"  Northeast,  August  10,  1830. 

"  My  dear  Cousin, — I  delight  to  hear  of  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  any  place; 
but  when  friends  and  kindred  whom  I  so  much 
love  are  the  subjects  of  grace,  it  awakens  emotions 
of  livelier  joy.  What  gratitude  and  praise  should 
fill  our  hearts  and  swell  our  songs,  that  God,  the 
Almighty  Savior,  has  graciously  manifested  him- 
self to  you  and  me,  and  to  so  many  of  ours!  Why 
is  it  that  we  are  so  eminently  distinguished  ?  Is  it 
because  we  are  so  happily  numbered  among  the 
generations  of  those  to  whom,  and  to  whose  seed, 
the  Lord  has  showed  mercy,  because  they  have 
loved  him  and  kept  his  commandments  ? 

M  Pride  often  takes  possession  of  the  heart  and 
keeps  us  for  a  season  in  a  state  of  starvation,  even 
when  we  know  that  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  mak- 
cth  rich,  because  we  are  unwilling  to  be  beggars 
for  spiritual  food.  May  the  Lord  make  us  humble, 
and  give  us  more  and  more  of  the  spirit  of  meek- 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  201 

ness,  because  he  has  said  he  will  beautify  the  meek 
with  salvation,  and  give  to  the  poor  in  spirit  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  O  may  we  live  as  daily  pen- 
sioners on  his  bounty,  and  put  our  trust  under  the 
shadow  of  his  wings,  that  we  may  be  sheltered 
from  the  storms  of  life — dwell  securely  in  his  pre- 
sence— be  abundantly  satisfied  with  the  provisions 
of  his  house  below,  and  finally  drink  of  the  rivers 
of  pleasure  that  flow  from  his  throne  above  ! 
V  Your  affectionate  cousin, 

ft  Hannah  Hobbie." 
"  P.  S.  In  our  Sabbath-school  we  have  twenty- 
three  scholars,  and  are  in  expectation  of  more. 
About  seventeen  usually  attend  at  once.  This  num- 
ber may  seem  small  to  you.  Will  you  take  the  trou- 
ble to  procure  me  some  more  books  for  my  school  ? 
The  Lord  alone  can  sufficiently  reward  you  for 
your  kindness." 

In  her  journal  she  thus  notices  the  death  of  a 
female  member  of  the  church  : 

"  August  11.    In  the  providence  of  God  another 
instance  of  mortality  reminds  me  of  my  own  latter 

end.    Our  dear  Mrs.  G is  no  longer  a  resident 

among  us.  We  trust  her  ransomed  spirit,  which 
this  morning  was  released  from  its  tenement  of 
clay,  has  been  graciously  and  gloriously  transmit- 
ted from  this  wearisome  world,  where  all  is  com- 


202  MEMOIR   OF 

motion  and  distress,  to  heaven,  the  peaceful  abode 
of  everlasting  bliss !  May  all  of  us  who  survive 
possess  the  peace  which  she  so  evidently  possessed 
through  a  long  season  of  distress,  and  meet  her 
and  all  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  in  the  regions  of 
immortal  glory  and  light ! 

M  Since  I  still  remain  in  this  state  of  trial,  while 
others,  one  after  another,  are  called  away,  how 
reasonable,  how  highly  important,  that  I  inquire 
whether  '  I  am  prepared  to  meet  my  God  !'  How 
am  I  affected  with  regard  to  this  and  another 
world  ]  I  am  practically  convinced  that  all  earthly 
pleasures  are  vain,  and  if  I  look  after  things  seen 
and  temporal,  they  only  vex  and  harass  my  feeble 
soul.  O  when  will  that  happy  period  arrive,  when 
my  expectations  from  them,  and  my  attachments 
to  them,  shall  be  taken  wholly  away !  O  for  that 
faith  which  overcometh  the  world  !" 

The  following  letter  shows  her  usual  mode  of 
acknowledging  a  favor.  It  was  written  to  her 
cousin  J H H ,  on  receiving  a  dona- 
tion of  books  for  her  Sabbath-school : 

"  Northeast,  August  16,  1830. 

"  Dear  Cousin, — I  hasten  to  inform  you  that  on 

Thursday  morning  I  received,   with  the   utmost 

pleasure,  the  Tracts,  Books,  Magazines,  &c.  &c. 

which  you  were  so  kind  as  to  send  me  for  oar 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  203 

Sabbath-school.  For  this  act  of  Christian  benevo- 
lence in  yourself  and  others,  whose  desire  it  is  to 
do  good  to  the  rising  generation,  I  most  sincerely 
thank  you,  and  pray  that  He  whose  rights  you  are 
endeavoring  to  maintain,  and  whose  cause  you  are 
laboring  to  promote,  may  greatly  comfort  your 
hearts  with  the  peace  of  the  Gospel,  and  establish 
you  in  every  good  word  and  work. 

M  Affectionately  yours, 

M  Hannah  Hobbie." 


Under  date  of  August  20th  her  journal  contains 
the  following : 


M  *  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee,'  says 
the  Almighty  to  his  chosen  people ;  and,  blessed  be 
his  name  !  this  word  is  a  tried  word.  Although  Sa- 
tan has  desired  to  have  me,  and  the  world  and  my 
treacherous  heart  have  unitedly  engaged  to  pro- 
cure my  downfall,  yet  the  Lord  is  a  Friend  to  me 
*  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.'  " 


On  the  24th  of  August  she  wrote  to  her  friend, 

J H H again  to  purchase  more  books 

for  her  Sabbath-school,  and  states  that  the  school 
was  nourishing,  and  that  it  demanded  her  "  con- 
tinued and  unwearied  attention." 


204  MEMOIR   OF 

(To  her  Cousin,  Miss  E B ,  of  Bedford.) 

"  Northeast,  August  28,  1830. 

"  Dear  Cousin, — When  I  look  at  the  date  of 
your  last,  and  remember  your  request,  I  conclude 
you  have  by  this  time  almost  pronounced  me  an 
unfaithful  friend.  Indeed,  I  know  that  I  should  have 
acknowledged  before  your  kind  favor,  but  I  hope 
you  will  pardon  my  seeming  neglect,  as  I  have  not 
willingly  deferred  it.  I  heard  some  time  since  that 
your  health  was  more  impaired  ;  if  so,  and  you  are 
still  suffering  under  the  chastisements  of  the  Al- 
mighty, I  do  hope  and  pray  that  while  you  are  in 
the  furnace  the  fiery  trial  may  be  to  the  purifying 
of  your  soul,  consuming  the  dross  and  separating 
it  all  from  the  gold. 

<c  I  still  languish  upon  my  bed,  and  feel  that  my 
outward  man  is  perishing ;  and  were  it  not  for  my 
pride,  and  sloth  fulness,  and  faithlessness,  I  could  say 
that  my  inward  man  is  renewed,  even  day  by  day. 
I  find  myself  surrounded  by  innumerable  foes ;  and 
although  my  Lord  has  promised  that  as  my  day  is 
so  shall  my  strength  be,  yet  I  too  often  forget  to 
hide  his  word  in  my  heart,  that  I  may  not  sin 
against  him ;  and  presuming  that  I  can,  some  of 
the  time  at  least,  direct  my  own  steps,  I  am  justly 
left  to  fall  into  temptation  and  sin.  Thus  my  pro- 
gress in  the  divine  life  is  often  retarded  by  my  own 
inconsistency,  and  my  advancement  towards  heaven 


HANNAH    HOEBIE.  205 

is  slow  and  difficult — so  at  least  it  appears  to  me. 
Through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin  I  become  blind  to 
my  real  condition,  and  even  lost  to  a  true  sense  of 
what  I  am  doing.  The  Lord  forbid  that  I  should 
be  so  un Grateful  for  the  srrace  given  me  as  to  reck- 
on  myself  yet  a  slave  to  sin  !  The  Lord  forbid  that 
I  should  lightly  esteem  the  glorious  liberty  of  the 
Gospel,  by  not  rejoicing  in  it  as  one  that  has  been 
graciously  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corrup- 
tion !  But  my  depraved  nature  is  not  yet  wholly 
sanctified.  The  workings  of  sin  within  me  tend  to 
mar  my  dearest  enjoyments.  I  think  I  can  truly 
say  that  I  f  delight  in  the  law  of  the  Lord  after  the 
inward  man  ;'  but  while  there  is  f  another  law  in 
my  members,  warring  against  the  law  of  my  mind 
and  bringing  me  into  captivity  to  the  law  of  sin,' 
my  cry  will  ever  be,  c  O  wretched  being  that  I  am  V 
Yet,  when  I  say,  '  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the 
body  of  this  death  V  the  answer  is  always  ready ; 
'  I  thank  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord,'  it 
can  be  done.  Yes,  still  my  heart  shall  bless,  my 
tongue  shall  utter  thanks  to  God,  '  through  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.' 

1  How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds 

'  In  a  believer's  ear, 
1  It  soothes  his  sorrow,  heals  his  wounds, 

'  And  drives  away  his  fear.' 

"  To  live  in  hope  of  all  the  blessings  which  Je- 

H.Hobbie.  1Q 


206  MEMOIR   OP 

8us  died  to  procure  for  sinners  is  joy  unspeakable. 
What  then  must  be  the  happiness  of  those  who  are 
admitted  to  their  Ml  fruition  !  O,  my  dear  friend, 
let  us  leave  those  things  which  are  behind,  and 
reach  forth  to  that  which  is  before  !    O  let  us 

1  Run  up  with  joy  the  shining  way 
1 T'  embrace  our  dearest  Lord,' 

that  we  may  meet  him  in  the  full  assurance  of  his 
favor,  as  our  God,  and  in  his  presence  abide  for 
ever  more ! 

"  I  am  your  affectionate  cousin, 

'*  Hannah  Hobbie." 

Her  journal  notices  the  rich  autumnal  supplies 
in  the  following  manner : 

"  September  8.  The  harvest  is  past ;  another 
summer  has  yielded  a  rich  supply  for  the  wants  of 
man ;  but  alas  !  it  is  to  be  feared  that  these  earthly 
provisions  of  the  Lord's  bounty  have  been  poured 
out  upon  an  ungrateful  people.  But  how  much 
more  distressing  the  thought,  that  so  many  despise 
even  the  gift  of  eternal  life,  so  freely  offered  unto 
all ;  and  refuse  to  acknowledge  God  as  the  giver 
of  every  good  and  perfect  gift.  O  that  the  Lord 
would  prepare  our  hearts  to  receive  with  thankful- 
ness the  bounties  of  his  providence,  and  grant  a 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  207 

rich  supply  of  spiritual  blessings;  for  all  around  ap- 
pears barren  and  unfruitful !" 

On  the  last  day  of  September,  1830,  a  meeting 

was  attended  at  Capt.  C 's,  in  Mr.  Hobbie's 

neighborhood,  as  an  anniversary  of  the  solemn 
meeting  noticed  under  the  same  date  in  1827. 
This  meeting,  I  trust,  was  also  blessed  to  many ; 
to  some  in  the  refreshings  of  the  Divine  presence, 
and  to  others,  in  showing  them  their  sins  and  lead- 
ing them  to  the  Savior.  Of  this  meeting  Hannah 
thus  speaks  : 

M  October  2.  Evening  before  last  a  meeting  was 
held  at  Capt.  C 's  in  remembrance  of  the  inte- 
resting one  held  on  the  same  evening  three  years 

ago.    Mr.  A preached  on  the  occasion ;  and 

addresses  were  made  by  others,  some  of  which,  I 

am  told,  were  very  reviving.    Capt.  C 's  two 

sisters,  with  their  husbands,  Mr.  B ,  of  P , 

and  Mr.  T ,  of  W ,  were  there.     Their 

hearts  all  appeared  to  be  animated  by  the  love  of 
God,  and  their  souls  fired  with  heavenly  zeal.  A 
happy  impression  was  made  on  the  minds  of  both 
Christians  and  sinners.  Many  felt  it  good  to  be 
there.    O  may  the  impression  be  lasting  ! 

M  The  visiters  from  P — •—  and  W were  de- 
tained yesterday  by  the  hopeful  conversion  of  one 
of  the  household  of  Capt.  C .    Thanks  be  to 


208  MEMOIR    OF 

God  for  the  happy  intelligence  that  another  is  born 
again  !  O  that  the  Lord  would  continue  to  pour 
out  his  Spirit  here,  and  glorify  himself  more  abun- 
dantly by  bringing  sinners  to  repentance  !" 

The  return  <p£  Miss  Hobbie's  birth-day  was  al- 
ways to  herself  a  season  of  deep  interest.  The  so- 
lemn and  affecting  reflections  which  such  a  period 
is  so  well  calculated  to  produce,  were  usually  on 
such  occasions  brought  before  her  mind  in  a  very 
forcible  manner.  But  the  return  of  the  13th  of 
October,  1830,  was  to  her  peculiarly  solemn.  She 
was  sensible  that  it  must  be,  in  all  probability,  her 
last  birth-day.  It  was  therefore  improved  as  such, 
and  the  thoughts  it  awakened  made  a  deep  and 
lasting  impression.  She  contemplated  the  grave, 
however,  with  composure,  and  looked  in  upon  the 
vast  and  awful  eternity  which  lies  beyond  with  a 
firm  and  steady  gaze. 

tc  The  return  of  the  13th  of  October  assures  me 
that  another  year  is  gone — gone  for  ever  !  The 
swift  passing  time,  my  wasting  flesh,  and  my  pow- 
ers of  body,  all  gradually  decaying,  convince  me 
that  my  stay  on  earth  will  be  short ;  that  I  must 
soon  pass  the  Jordan  of  death,  and  enter  the  eter- 
nal world.  Yes,  indeed,  death,  judgment,  and 
eternity  are  just  before  me  !  Do  I  live  under  the 
impression  of  this  solemn  fact]    Alas  !  I  still  have 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  209 

cause  to  mourn  over  a  carnal  mind ;  I  am  grieved 
at  so  much  conformity  to  the  world ;  I  too  often 
find  in  myself  a  disposition  to  be  angry  and  fretful, 
which  I  think  exceedingly  deplorable ;  and  I  must 
add  to  the  catalogue  of  my  sins  many  short-comings 
in  duty  to  God,  to  my  neighbor,  and  to  myself.  O 
how  does  it  become  me,  in  view  of  all  these  my 
iniquities,  to  humble  myself  under  a  sense  of  sin 
and  guilt !  And  since  these  are  but  a  small  part  of 
my  transgressions,  I  humbly  beseech  thee,  O  God, 
to  teach  me  that  which  I  see  not,  that  in  all  things 
wherein  I  have  hitherto  offended  I  may  offend  no 
more  !    0  let  me  be  holy  as  thou  art  holy ! 

I  Save,  0  save  me  from  temptation, 

'  Thou  in  whom  my  soul  doth  trust ; 

I I  have  long'd  for  thy  salvation, 
'  Yet  am  cleaving  to  the  dust. 

'  Oft  returning  and  repenting, 

*  I  have  sought  thee  as  before  ; 
1  And,  to  all  thy  law  consenting, 

c  Thought  the  contest  almost  o'er. 

4  But  this  treach'rous  heart  deceive*  me ; 

*  Who  its  desperate  depths  can  trace  ? 
1  Unless  sovereign  power  relieves  me, 

1  Mine's  indeed  a  hopeless  case  ! 

•  Be  thy  precepts  deep  engraven, 

'  As  with  diamond,  on  my  breast, 
1  'Till  I  reach  the  peaceful  haven, 

1  Where  my  soul  from  sin  may  resU4 
18* 


210  MEMOIR    OF 

u  On  entering  another  year  of  my  life,  though 
I  suffer  much  from  bodily  indisposition,  I  desire  to 
make  some  new  endeavors  after  holiness  ;  for  my 
soul  is  pained  to  think  of  my  barrenness  and  dead- 
ness — that  I  live  so  little  to  the  glory  of  God. 

M  "Will  the  God  of  all  grace  help  me  to  form  a 
few  resolutions  !  I  would  now  record  them  for  my 
frequent  perusal,  that  I  may  thereby  be  assisted  to 
live  more  righteously,  be  more  holy,  and  be  kept 
continually  in  the  fear  of  God." 

RESOLUTIONS. 

"  1.  I  resolve  to  be  more  earnest  in  prayer  to 
God  for  faith,  which  works  by  love,  and  purifies  the 
heart,  and  overcomes  the  world. 

M  2.  I  resolve  to  guard  against  a  petulant,  hasty  dis- 
position, and  the  sudden  rising  of  passion  on  small 
occurrences  ;  and  will  endeavor  to  gain  possession 
of  a  meek,  gentle,  and  quiet  spirit ;  and  fail  not  to 
manifest  it  before  all,  but  in  a  special  manner  be- 
fore my  little  brothers  and  sisters,  whom  I  am  en- 
deavoring to  teach  by  precept,  that  they  may  be 
won  also  by  my  example. 

M  3.  I  will  see  that  the  care  of  my  body  does 
not  exceed  that  of  my  soul. 

"4.    I  resolve  to  pay  particular  attention  to  my 
diet,  and  endeavor  to  suppress  the  cravings  of  a  false 
appetite,  which  oftentimes  induces  me  to  take  more 
food  than  nature  requires,  that  I  may  not  be  ren 
dered  thereby  unfit  for  duty. 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  211 

M  5.  I  am  resolved  to  be  more  diligent  in  ob- 
serving the  providences  of  God  towards  me,  and 
treasuring  up  the  instances  of  his  goodness,  and 
the  different  exercises  of  my  mind. 

"6.  In  humble  consideration  of  my  dependent 
condition,  I  will  strive  to  cultivate  grateful  and 
generous  feelings  both  towards  my  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther and  my  earthly  friends. 

"  O  God,  thou  seest  what  I  have  here  written  ! 
May  I  ever,  under  a  sense  of  my  own  weakness, 
look  to  thee  for  grace  to  keep  these  resolutions  ; 
that  as  often  as  I  read  them  I  may  do  it  with  joy, 
my  conscience  bearing  witness  that  I  am  not  un- 
faithful in  respect  to  them  !" 

The  4th  resolution  is  probably  entitled  to  more 
consideration  than  will  in  general  be  given  it. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


Miss  Hobbie's  health  began  now  more  manifestly 
to  exhibit  the  symptoms  of  rapid  and  permanent 
decline.  It  seemed  as  if  the  disease  was  exhibit- 
ing the  collected  results  of  its  former  powerful, 
but  insidious  and  hidden  workings.  She  had  long 
been  sensible  that  death,  sooner  or  later,  must  be 


212  MEMOIR    OF 

the  inevitable  issue ;  but  now  that  expected  issue 
seemed  to  be  near,  and  she  contemplated  her  com- 
ing change  with  perfect  composure.  Her  greatest 
anxiety  was  to  be  ready  for  the  summons  ;  and  this 
led  her  to  an  inquiry  into  the  real  state  of  her  heart, 
which  was  characterized  by  the  severest  scrutiny. 
If  we  notice  attentively  her  language  at  this  pe- 
riod, we  shall  observe  how  much  the  pollution  of 
her  heart  affected  her.  Her  habits  of  self-exami- 
nation were  such,  that  no  day  passed  without  dili- 
gent attention  to  the  state  of  her  heart ;  and  this 
review  was  systematic  and  thorough. 

I  have  often  remarked  that  habits  of  life  in  other 
things  generally  mark  very  strongly  the  character 
of  a  person's  piety.  If  he  has  been  careless  and 
slothful  in  regard  to  his  ordinary  concerns,  and  has 
grown  up  under  the  influence  of  such  habits,  his 
religion  not  unfrequently  partakes  more  or  less  of 
his  characteristic  negligence  ;  while  the  person  who 
has  been  trained  to  habits  of  neatness,  and  industry, 
and  carefulness  in  other  matters,  will  usually  ex- 
hibit more  of  system  and  beauty  in  the  christian 
life.  Miss  Hobbie's  religion  partook  largely  of  the 
benefits  of  such  early  habits.  Neatness,  order,  and 
enterprise  reigned  in  the  family  abode.  Her 
father's  farm  was  always  well  tilled,  and  his  cattle 
well  fed,  and  himself  doing  something  to  good  pur- 
pose, while  his  wife,  the  faithful  companion  of  his 
pilgrimage  through  many  a  toilsome  year,  '  looked 


HANNAH    ROBBIE.  213 

well  to  the  ways  of  her  household  ;'  and  none  there 
might  be  permitted  to  eat  the  bread  of  idleness. 

This  exerted  a  happy  influence  on  the  religion 
of  the  family.  Their  system  and  enterprise  were 
carried  into  it.  The  evening  lectures  and  the 
prayer-meetings  were  seldom  forsaken  by  them ; 
and  on  very  stormy  Sabbath  mornings,  it  was  a  fre- 
quent remark,  fC  There  will  be  meeting  to-day,  for 
the  Hobbies  will  be  there.' : 

Hannah  did  all  that  she  was  called  to  do  with 
diligence  and  system.  In  her  self-examination  it  is 
evident  that  all  the  exercises  of  her  mind  were  dis- 
tinctly arranged,  that  they  might  be  the  more  close- 
ly reviewed.  She  kept  her  heart  with  diligence, 
knowing  that  out  of  it  were  the  issues  of  life. 

It  was  this  that  now  caused  her  so  many  sorrows. 
She  was  dying  inch  by  inch,  yet  she  never  remit- 
ted this  duty.  The  great  discoveries  she  obtained 
of  the  depths  of  iniquity  within  her  filled  her  heart 
with  grief;  but  her  hope,  as  will  be  seen,  continued 
strong  and  clear. 

An  affecting  sketch  of  the  exercises  of  her  mind 
will  be  found  in  the  following  letter  to  her  friend 
and  cousin,  J H H . 

11  Northeast,   Oct.  14,  1830. 
M  My  dear  Cousin, — As  I  have  been  spared  to 
enter  upon  another  year  of  my  poor  unprofitable 
life,  I  would  begin  it  by  devoting  a  few  of  my  pre* 


214  MEMOIR   OF 

cious  moments  to  my  beloved  Hervey.  I  trust  I  do 
feel,  in  some  measure,  the  value  of  time,  and  there- 
fore am  anxious,  with  earliest  desi?  e,  in  time  to  come, 
to  make  a  wise  improvement  of  it.  The  Lord  grant 
me  grace  to  do  so  ! 

•'  In  taking  a  review  of  my  past  life,  especially 
the  past  year,  I  am  utterly  confounded  and  covered 
with  shame  to  find  how  little  of  my  time  has  been 
devoted,  according  to  my  many  vows,  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  when  my  motives  and  obligations  have 
been  greatly  increased.  What  abundant  reason  have 
I  for  thankfulness,  that  through  so  long  a  season  of 
sickness  I  have  been  favored  with  so  much  comfort 
of  body,  so  much  strength,  and  the  greater  bless- 
ing of  the  free  exercise  of  my  mental  faculties ! 
what  cause  for  gratitude,  that  I  still  possess  so  many 
privileges  !  I.  bless  the  Lord  that  he  ever  has  shown 
me  the  truth  of  his  tcord  in  my  past  experience  ;  for 
when  I  have  committed  my  way  unto  him,  he  has 
given  me  the  desire  of  my  heart. 

"  It  was  not  long  since  that  a  sense  of  my  vile- 
ness  and  unprofitableness  lay  as  an  indescribable 
burden  on  my  mind.  The  Lord  at  that  time  lis- 
tened to  my  cries  and  groans.  I  wished  either  to  be 
absent  from  the  body  or  made  useful  in  it ;  and  ra- 
ther than  take  me  to  himself,  he  was  graciously 
pleased  to  open  to  me,  and  lead  me  into,  a  field  of 
active  duty  ;  and  though  poor  and  weak  have  been 
my  services  in  it,  I  humbly  trust  that  they  have  not 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  215 

been  altogether  in  vain.  I  have  often  felt  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  has  been  my  helper  in  this  work  of 
love ;  and  thanks  be  to  God,  my  bodily  strength 
has  not  failed  in  any  one  instance  since  I  com- 
menced my  Sabbath-school.  The  Sabbath-school 
cause  i3  continually  increasing  in  my  estimation. 
The  more  I  reflect  upon  the  subject  the  greater 
does  the  importance  appear  of  leading  the  mind 
early  in  the  way  of  wisdom.  Surely  there  is  interest 
enough  in  this  mighty  work  to  engage  the  attention 
of  every  friend  of  Jesus  and  every  lover  of  man- 
kind. O  may  the  time  soon  arrive  when  the  young 
and  rising  generation  shall  universally  come  under 
the  blessed  influence  of  Sabbath-school  instruction, 
and  be  brought  thereby  to  a  saving  knowledge  of 
tne  truth ! 

"  All  that  you  have  sent  for  the  use  of  the  Sab- 
bath-school has  been  received  with  much  pleasure. 
The  scholars  have  been  apparently  much  interested 
with  the  books,  &c. 

<c  I  remain,  as  ever, 

"  Your  affectionate  cousin, 

"  Hannah  Hobbie." 

We  return  to  her  journal : 

M  October  22.  How  shall  I  account  for  the  cold- 
ness which  pervades  my  soul  this  day  1  O  thou, 
who  art  the  life  and  health  of  my  soul,  wilt  thou 


216  MEMOIR    OF 

apply  the  balm  of  Gilead,  that  I  may  be  healed 
from  the  dreadful  malady  of  sin,  and,  for  thy  name's 
sake,  quicken  me  with  thy  grace !" 

"  Saturday,  Oct.  23.  I  would  remember  how  in 
mercy  and  goodness  I  have  been  led  through  the 
past  week.  I  have  been  more  comfortable  in  body, 
and  accordingly  have  been  better  able  to  attend  to 
the  concerns  of  my  soul.  But  I  fear  I  make  too 
little  advancement  in  holiness.  O  may  a  sense  of 
duty  and  obligation  excite  me  to  constant  faith- 
fulness and  a  warmer  zeal  in  the  cause  of  my 
adorable  Savior!" 

"  Oct.  24.  Lord's  day.  Welcome,  O  my  soul, 
the  return  of  this  blessed  day,  which  brings  to 
mind  so  many  sweet  reflections  concerning  God, 
and  his  love  to  sinful  man ;  and  thrice  welcome  the 
day  when  I  meet  the  Sabbath-school  children  under 
my  care  !  Though  feeble  are  my  endeavors,  yet 
blessed  be  God  for  having  put  it  in  my  power  to 
do  something  towards  bringing  them  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth  !  The  Lord  grant  that  they  may 
become  wise  unto  salvation  !  Gracious  Redeemer 
let  me  not  be  disappointed  in  the  hope  of  seeing 
some  of  them,  at  least,  convinced  of  sin,  feeling 
their  need  of  a  Savior,  and  fleeing  to  the  refuge 
of  thy  cross !  O  that  they  may  forsake  the  sins  and 
follies  of  youth,  and  give  up  their  hearts  to  the 
service  of  God  their  Savior !  O  may  thy  grace  be 
magnified,  and  thy  name  glorified,  in  their  eaily 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  217 

conversion  unto  thee  !  Wilt  thou  make  one  in  the 
midst  of  those  who  assemble  this  day,  and  let  it  be 
profitable  unto  all  ?  Most  merciful  God,  wilt  thou 
show  us  some  token  for  good,  that  our  unbelief 
may  be  confounded,  and  that  the  tongue  of  reproach 
may  be  put  to  silence  before  thee  ]" 

M  Oct.  25.  Have  a  good  degree  of  bodily  com- 
fort, and  my  mind  is  also  less  subject  to  distracting 
thoughts  than  it  has  of  late  often  been.  I  thank 
God,  that  whenever  my  heart  has  been  inclined  to 
wander  from  him  and  go  out  after  vanity,  it  fills  me 
with  great  misery  to  find  it  so.  I  seek  after  unre- 
served resignation,  O  Lord,  to  thy  wise  and  holy 
will,  and  after  greater  love  to  my  fellow-men.  O 
that  I  may  grow  in  patience  and  fortitude  of  soul ; 
in  humility,  and  zeal,  and  spirituality,  and  a  heaven- 
ly disposition ;  and  be  mainly  concerned,  that, 
whether  I  live  or  die,  God  may  be  glorified  in  me  !" 

(To  her  aunt  H ,  New- York  City.) 

"  Northeast,  Oct  26, 1830. 
"  My  dear  Aunt, — My  friends  inform  me  that  you 
are  still  under  affliction  in  your  own  sickness  and 
that  of  some  of  the  family.  Do  you  feel  like  ac- 
knowledging the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  in 
all  this  ]  It  is  better,  surely,  l  to  suffer  affliction 
with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures 
of  sin  for  a  season/  and  since  our  stubbornness  and 

H.HobWe.  2.9 


218  MEMOIR   OP 

self-will  must  be  brought  into  subjection  to  the  will 
of"  God ;  since  all  our  sinful  lusts  and  passions  must 
be  mortified  and  subdued ;  in  fine,  since  oui  whole 
hearts  must  undergo  a  complete  renovation,  we 
need  not  think  it  strange  that  our  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther employs  such  thorough  mearis  to  accomplish 
this  work  in  the  hearts  of  those  whom  he  loves. 
Let  us  count  ourselves  happy  when  we  are  chasten- 
ed by  him,  for  we  are  far  more  blest  than  the  wicked, 
in  all  their  prosperity. 

M  When  I  survey  the  dealings  of  an  all-wise  and 
gracious  Providence  towards  my  beloved  aunt  and 
her  family,  it  is  with  mingled  emotions  of  sympathy 
and  admiration.  Fond  nature  sympathizes  with 
your  sufferings,  while  adoring  praise  and  love  re- 
cognize in  a  covenant-keeping  Father's  chastenings, 
at  least  some  evidences  of  your  adoption  into  his 
family,  through  the  mercy  that  abounds  in  Jesus 
Christ.  God  will  find  means  to  purify  his  people. 
You  ought  to  rejoice. 

M  You,  my  dear  aunt,  have  been  the  joyful  moth- 
er of  two  who  are  now,  as  we  humbly  trust,  glori- 
fied spirits  in  heaven.  The  hopeful  state  of  those 
whom  you  are  now  endeavoring  to  train  up  for 
God  is,  I  am  sure,  sufficient  to  give  comfort  in 
your  darkest  moments.  Your  anxiety  for  those 
around  you,  together  with  your  own  infirmities, 
may  threaten  to  overwhelm  you,  but  you  will  be 
supported*    Happy,  indeed,  must  be  the  reflection, 


HANNAH    H0BBIE.  219 

tbat  you  have  been  made  the  honored  instrument 
of  bringing  a  son,  at  so  early  a  period  of  life,  to  a 
saving  knowledge  of  the  truth ;  who  now,  showing 
himself  grateful  unto  all,  but  especially  to  God,  for 
the  blessings  conferred  upon  him,  designs  to  give 
himself  to  the  service  of  God,  in  the  Gospel  of  his 
Son,  seeking  the  salvation  of  all  to  whom  he  may 
be  sent  in  his  Master's  name  and  strength. 

"  May  God  prepare  you  for  all  that  he  intends 
to  do  respecting  you,  whether  mercy  or  affliction 
be  given  you,  and  enable  you  to  profit  by  either 
that  he  may  please  to  send !  May  he  be  a  God  to 
you,  and  all  yours,  for  ever ! 

M  Your  affectionate  niece, 

M  Hannah  Hobbie." 

Her  journal  continues : 

M  Oct.  27.  On  making  inquiry  this  day  concern- 
ing the  health  of  my  soul,  1  find  the  malady  of  sin 
still  rages  within.  However,  I  only  have  to  look  to 
Christ ;  He  is  my  great  Physician :  he  can  make 
me  whole ;  blessed  be  his  name  !" 

M  Oct.  30.  I  would  make  mention  of  the  gracious 
privilege  afforded  me  last  evening  of  again  hearing 
the  Gospel  preached  by  my  dear  pastor.  He  spoke 
from  these  words,  '  Wherefore  he  is  able  also  to 
save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by 
him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for 


220  MEMOIR   OF 

them/  Heb.  7  :  25.  Truly,  the  word  was  to  me  as 
meat  is  to  him  that  is  hungry.  It  proved  refreshing, 
consoling,  and  encouraging  in  my  needy  condition, 
distressed  and  disheartened  as  I  was.  O  why  is 
my  faith  so  weak !  I  do  humbly  thank  God  that 
since  I  first  believed  I  have  not  been  left  (notwith- 
standing the  enormity  of  my  sins)  to  doubt,  but 
have  had  continual  hope  in  his  mercy ;  but  since 
Jesus  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost,  and  is  offering 
rich  mercy  to  all  that  will  accept  of  it,  I  long  for  a 
stronger  faith  to  lay  hold  on  the  promises  for  my- 
self, and  for  my  dearest  friends  and  relatives  who 
are  out  of  Christ.  O  precious  Savior,  able  to  save 
me  and  others,  hear  my  prayer  for  myself  and  my 
friends !  As  thou  knowest  my  desires,  teach  me  to  ask 
aright,  that  I  may  receive,  and  thyself  be  glorified  !" 

"  Oct.  31.  Blessed  Sabbath  day !  how  it  helps 
us  on  toward  heaven  !" 

e<  Nov.  -2.  O  why  live  at  a  distance  from  God, 
when  I  may  be  brought  and  kept  nigh  by  the  blood 
and  Spirit  of  Christ  %  Why  love  my  Savior  so  lit- 
tle, when  his  love  to  me  is  so  great  1  Why  is  my 
faith  so  weak,  when  the  promises  are  so  many,  and 
great,  and  precious?  Why  such  leanness,  when 
there  is  all  the  fatness  of  his  house  to  feast  upon  ] 
Why  mourn  my  sin  and  pollution,  when  all  can  be 
covered  with  the  Savior's  righteousness  and  for- 
given by  his  grace  ?  *  The  Lord  will  withhold  no 
good  thing  from  them  that  walk  uprightly.'  " 


HANNAH    HOBBIK.  221 

M  November  S.  In  the  providence  of  God  I  have 
been  highly  favored  for  several  days.  I  am  often 
greatly  distressed  in  body,  yet  being  blest  with  a 
considerable  respite,  I  do,  I  trust  with  gratitude 
as  well  as  joy,  take  for  a  few  minutes  my  needle,  and 
besides  other  things,  have  helped  to  enlarge  the 
funds  of  our  Benevolent  Society.  ^ 

M  When  enoaored  in  the  concerns  of  this  world, 
how  difficult  to  keep  my  mind  unspotted  from  it. 
I  have  continually  to  be  on  my  guard  lest  the 
blessing  which  I  have  more  especially  been  favor- 
ed with  of  late  should  prove  a  snare  to  my  soul. 
Will  the  Lord  save  me  from  temptation  and  sin, 
and  give  me  grace  now  and  glory  hereafter !" 

"  November  14.  From  some  cause,  and  I  fear 
by  some  acts  of  rebellion,  my  mind  has  been  for  a 
little  time  past  almost  continually  harassed  and 
perplexed,  so  that  I  could  not  plainly  discover  the 
hand  of  God  in  my  way.  But  I  thank  him  that  I 
can  this  day  see  his  love  and  goodness  in  giving 
me  greater  discoveries  of  the  wickedness  of  my 
heart,  of  the  emptiness  of  the  world,  and  of  the 
great  power  of  sin  and  Satan  to  deceive." 

"  November  15.  I  see  still  to-day  how  poor 
and  vain  a  thing  the  world  is.  It  brings  sorrow, 
and  proves  its  vanity  to  all,  even  its  votaries.  Its 
allurements  only  rob  us  of  better  things,  and  leave 
us  bitterness  and  sorrow.  The  Lord  save  me  from 
all  its  snares !" 

19* 


222  MEMOIR   OF 

*■  November  18.  The  degree  of  comfort  and 
strength  I  but  lately  enjoyed  I  have  in  a  great 
measure  lost.  I  fear  I  have  indulged  a  spirit  ap- 
proaching to  worldly  ambition,  and  that  this  is, 
partly  at  least,  the  reason  why  I  have  forfeited  the 
continuance  of  my  mercies  by  my  own  folly.  If 
so,  I  acknowledge  the  goodness,  justice,  and  mer- 
cy of  God  in  taking  from  me  this,  or  any  other 
earthly  good,  he  in  divine  wisdom  sees  would 
prove  detrimental  to  my  soul's  best  interests. 
Blessed  be  God  for  his  kind  providence  over  such 
an  ungrateful  and  inconsistent  creature  as  I  am!" 

From  this  date  there  was  no  intermission  even 
for  a  short  space,  to  her  sufferings,  but  one  contin- 
ued period  of  extreme  distress  of  body,  till  nature 
wore  away  under  it,  and  the  hour  of  her  dissolu- 
tion came.    Ten  days  subsequent  to  this  she  says  : 

M  November  2S.  Disorder  raging,  infirmities  in- 
creasing, and  distresses  multiplying,  evince  that  the 
solemn  hour  of  my  dissolution  draws  near  Yes ; 
death  with  his  fatal  dart  stands  over  me,  and  soon 
will  strike  the  blow  which  is  to  hurry  me  away 
from  all  that  I  have  held  dear  on  earth.  In  view 
of  the  solemn  scene  before  me,  I  would  say  to  my 
soul,  be  thou  in  readiness  ; — watch,  lest  the  Son 
of  Man  come  in  an  hour  when  thou  thinkest  not. 
O  my  blessed  Savior,  may  I  ever  abide  in  thee; 


HANNAH     HOBBIE.  223 

that  when  thou  shalt  appear,  I  may  have  confi- 
dence, and  not  be  ashamed  before  thee  at  thy 
coming  !" 

"  December  2.  In  the  world  have  I  tribulation 
and  distress ;  but  why  should  I  despond  ]  The 
great  Captain  of  salvation,  who  has  gone  before  to 
prepare  a  place  of  rest  for  his  faithful  people,  has 
overcome  the  world — has  gotten  for  me  the  victory  ; 
and  if  I  trust  in  him,  obeying  all  his  commands,  I 
may  conquer  every  enemy.  O  may  the  blessed 
Comforter  which  is  promised  to  them  that  suffer 
tribulation,  be  given  to  me  in  this  time  of  need, 
and  afford  me  abundant  consolation  and  support !  I 
would  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  take  courage  from  the 
words  of  eternal  truth.  When  I  am  tried,  may  I 
receive  a  crown  of  life,  which  the  Lord  has  pro- 
mised to  them  that  love  him  !" 

"  December  9.  This  day  is  set  apart  by  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  this  State  as  a  day  of  thanks- 
giving and  prayer  to  Almighty  God  for  his  multi- 
plied bounties  to  us  ;  and  feeling  that  no  one  has 
more  cause  than  myself  to  be  grateful,  I  will  call 
upon  my  soul  and  all  that  is  within  me  to  bless 
and  praise  the  Lord  for  the  gifts  of  his  providence 
and  the  richer  blessings  of  his  grace.  Although  a 
constant  sufferer,  pining  away  under  the  power  of 
a  relentless  disease,  I  am  surrounded  with  the  pro- 
visions of  God's  earthly  bounty,  and  have  abundant 
cause  for  thankfulness  for  the  spiritual  mercies 


224  MEMOIR   OP 

which  I  enjoy.  Let  my  heart,  then,  in  time  to* 
come,  abound  with  gratitude  and  praise. 

"  The  Lord  spare  our  guilty  nation,  and  visit  us 
in  mercy  !  How  long  shall  Satan  hold  this  people 
in  bondage  %  Bless  every  effort  to  send  the  Gospel 
throughout  all  the  earth,  and  bring  sinners  every 
where  to  Christ ! 

"  O  thou  Hope  of  Israel,  and  the  Savior  thereof, 
wilt  thou  not  appear  for  the  help  of  Zion  in  this 
place  ?  Thy  people  have  perverted  their  way,  and 
.  seem  to  have  in  a  measure  forgotten  God.  O,  most 
merciful  God,  for  thy  name's  sake  give  us  repent- 
ance, and  turn  away  thine  anger  from  us ;  cause 
thy  face  to  shine,  and  make  Zion  here  a  name  and 
a  praise  /" 

"  January  6,  1S31.  Free  grace!  Free  grace! 
grace  abounding  to  the  cliief  of  sinners  !  powerfully 
sustaining  my  feeble  soul  in  this  season  of  tribula- 
tion and  distress ;  affording  abundant  consolation, 
and  the  hope  of  a  glorious  rest  beyond  this  vale  of 
tears  !  O  what  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for 
the  hope  of  a  blessed  immortality  beyond  the 
grave  !  I  will  ascribe  glory  to  him,  for  he  is  the 
author  and  finisher  of  my  salvation  I" 

This  seems  somewhat  like  the  shout  of  victory; 
but  her  warfare  was  not  yet  entirely  over,  her  race 
was  not  yet  fully  finished.  On  the  12th  she  thus 
writes : 


HANNAH   HOBBIE.  225 

"  O  for  more  grace  !  O  for  a  fresh  supply  to  de- 
liver me  from  the  deadly  influence  of  sin  !  I  find 
myself,  partly  through  the  weakness  and  infirmity 
of  the  flesh,  but  mostly  through  the  wickedness 
that  is  in  me,  disposed  to  sin  against  my  Lord  in 
thought,  word,  and  deed.  Those  sins  which  are  to 
me  the  greatest  source  of  grief,  are  an  ungoverned 
passion,  an  unruly  tongue,  and  a  dead  faith.  O  that 
I  might  ever  be  kept  in  the  fear  of  God,  then 
should  I  not  sin  against  him  !" 

It  is  truly  affecting  to  hear  such  an  one  as  Han- 
nah Hobbie  complain  of  such  sins  as  are  here  men- 
tioned. Even  the  peevishness  generally  attendant 
on  the  last  stages  of  the  consumption  was  scarcely 
seen  to  manifest  itself,  so  closely  did  she  watch  her 
heart,  and  so  fervently  did  she  pray  against  it.  I 
never  saw  a  person  more  like  what  I  suppose  the 
inhabitants  of  heaven  are,  in  her  whole  spirit  and 
conduct. 

M  January  21.  c  J  will  never  leave  thee  nor  for- 
sake thee'  How  consoling  the  words  of  eternal 
truth !" 

This  is  the  close  of  her  interesting  journal,  with 
the  exception  of  a  single  record,  which  falls  more 
naturally  within  the  concluding  chapter. 


226  MEMOIR   OP 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

Prominent  Traits  of  her  Christian  Character. 

Having  chosen  the  service  of  God,  as  her  duty 
and  delight,  Miss  Hobbie  was  in  the  habit  of  re- 
minding herself  frequently  of  her  vows,  and  renew- 
ing her  covenant  with  God,  that  she  might  keep 
more  distinctly  in  view  her  great  object,  and  pur- 
sue it  with  renewed  and  unshaken  fidelity.  Her 
standard  of  christian  character  was  high  ; — above 
the  usual  aim  of  those  who  profess  to  consecrate 
themselves  to  God.  We  have  heard  her  say, 
lf  God  cannot  require  less  than  perfect  holiness  ;  I 
will  therefore  aim  to  be  perfect,  as  my  Father  in 
heaven  is  perfect."  Supreme  love  to  God  was  the 
controling  principle  of  her  life. 

Her  distinctive  traits  of  character  were  strongly 
marked.  A  few  of  them  claim  attention  as  the 
prominent  points  of  her  testimony  to  the  reality,  im- 
portance, and  efficacy  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 

She  had  a  very  deep  sense  of  sin,  and  of  the  evil 
of  her  own  heart. 

Sin  appeared  to  her  exceeding  sinful.  It  was,  in 
her  view,  nothing  short  of  enmity  to  God ;  nothing 
less  than  a  chosen  and  determined  rebellion  against 
his  holy  and  righteous  government.  It  was  throw- 
ing into  the  ranks  that  opposed  God  all  the  influ* 


HANNAH    HODBIE.  227 

ence  she  possessed,  to  pull  down  the  glorious  and 
beautiful  fabric  which  he  was  erecting,  and  pre- 
vent the  acclamations  of  joy  and  praise,  as  the  top- 
stone  should  be  brought  forth  with  shouting, 
" Grace,  grace  unto  it!"  It  was  opposition  to  de- 
signs of  infinite  love  and  mercy,  which,  carried 
out,  would  banish  from  the  world  confusion,  and 
malice,  and  wo  ;  would  bind  together  in  the  fra- 
ternity of  a  blessed  fellowship,  all  the  children 
of  men,  and  fill  this  earth  with  the  peace  and 
joy  of  heaven.  She  saw  that  sin  not  only  aimed 
at  the  subversion  of  all  this  wise  and  benevolent 
scheme,  but  rejected  and  despised  the  means  by 
which  it  was  to  be  accomplished  ;  that  it  was  trans- 
gression of  a  law  M  holy,  and  just,  and  good ;"  that  it 
trampled  under  foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  counted 
<f  the  blood  of  the  covenant  an  unholy  thing;" 
spurned  the  offer  of  mercy,  and  disdained  the  sub- 
mission which  would  secure  the  unspeakable  bene- 
fits of  the  great  salvation  ;  it  resisted  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  quenched  the  kind  influences  by  which  the  work 
of  sanctification  was  to  be  perfected  in  the  heart. 

Such  was  her  view  of  sin  ;  and  the  more  she 
looked  at  her  own  sin  the  greater  did  its  enormity 
appear,  and  the  more  did  she  reproach  herself  for 
it.  The  more  thoroughly  she  searched  the  hidden 
chambers  within,  the  more  sin  did  she  discover. 
There  she  found  the  dreadful  pride  over  which  she 
so  often  and  so  bitterly  mourned.   She  saw  so  much 


228  MEMOIR   OP 

of  the  treachery  and  deceitfulness  of  her  heart,  that 
she  dared  not  trust  it  in  any  thing.  She  found  it 
pleading  ever  for  forbidden  indulgence  and  de- 
structive pleasures ;  averse  to  the  holy  self-denial  to 
which,  as  a  servant  of  God,  she  was  called,  and 
whispering  *  peace  when  there  was  no  peace/  Her 
impressions  of  its  wickedness  were  lively  and 
abiding.  It  was  her  daily  aim  to  search  her  heart 
and  carefully  analyze  its  workings.  She  watched 
it  with  ceaseless  jealousy,  and  kept  it  with  untiring 
diligence.  The  effect  of  all,  was  to  drive  her  near- 
er to  the  Savior,  and  to  seat  her  beneath  the  cross. 
In  connection  with  this  was  sincere  repentance  and 
deep  humility.  She  understood  not  those  nice  meta- 
physical distinctions  which  sometimes  render  ob- 
tuse the  quick  and  delicate  susceptibilities  of  an 
awakened  conscience,  and  blunt  the  keenness  of 
self-reproach.  Sin  to  her  was  sin  ;  M  exceeding  sin- 
ful ;"  and  in  the  childlike  simplicity  of  her  heart,  she 
mourned  over  it  with  a  godly  sorrotv.  To  find  all 
this  in  herself — to  feel  that  she  was  justly  chargea- 
ble with  such  wickedness — with  strengthening  the 
ranks  of  revolt  from  God,  and  swelling  the  current 
of  disloyalty  to  the  King  of  kings — to  think  that 
she  had  contributed  to  defeat  the  blessed  purposes 
of  Divine  love  and  mercy,  grieved  her  deeply ;  her 
heart  was  pained  ;  it  was  broken.  She  was  melted 
into  deep  and  permanent  contrition ;  she  loathed 
herself  as  altogether  vile. 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  229 

How  often  have  I  listened  to  her  bitter  lamenta- 
tions over  her  former  forgetfulness  of  God,  and  re- 
jection of  his  mercy  ;  and  over  her  evil  heart,  which 
continually  inclined  to  the  same  course  of  iniquity  ! 
She  has  often  expressed  her  wonder  that  the  righ- 
teous vengeance  of  God  could  slumber  as  it  did. 
Under  such  views  of  herself  she  was  usually  much 
affected.  She  was  indeed  a  mourner;  but  she 
humbled  and  abased  herself,  and  repented  before 
God  ;  and  in  all  her  vileness  and  helplessness  fled, 
with  fervent  cries,  to  the  Savior  for  cleansing,  and 
for  grace  to  guard  her  against  the  enemy  of  her 
soul  and  strengthen  her  in  the  hour  of  temptation. 

This,  then,  is  her  testimony  against  sin  ;  against 
the  selfish,  wicked  purposes  and  dangerous  pride 
of  the  heart ;  against  the  dark  and  hopeless  enter- 
prise of  erecting  the  standard  of  rebellion  against 
God.  This  is  her  testimony,  jointly  with  all  the 
M  cloud  of  tvitnesses"  that  a  sense  of  sin,  and  deep 
repentance  on  account  of  it,  can  alone  show  us  our 
need  of  the  Savior,  discover  to  us  how  helpless  we 
are,  and  teach  us  that  the  strength  of  Christ  alone, 
is  made  perfect  in  our  weakness. 

Another  prominent  feature  of  her  piety  was  her 
love  to  the  Savior. 

Christ  was  very  precious  to  her  soul.     She  had  so 

clear  a  sense  of  her  wretchedness,  and  odiousness, 

and  ruin  as  a  sinner,  that  she  knew  none  else  could 

help  her.   She  saw  in  him  an  all-sufficient  deliverer, 

H.  Hobbie.  20 


230  MEMOIR   OP 

and  fled  to  him  broken-hearted  and  perishing.  He 
washed  away  her  sins  with  his  own  blood,  con- 
troled  and  kept  in  check,  by  his  Spirit,  her  way- 
wardness and  corruption,  and  spake  words  of  sweet 
comfort  in  her  ear.  No  other  being  in  the  universe 
could  have  done  it.  She  had  suffered  so  long  un- 
der a  sense  of  sin,  and  the  wickedness  of  her  heart 
would  start  up  so  often  in  terrifying  aspects  before 
her,  that  she  was  taught  day  by  day  how  much  she 
needed  his  help.  He  had  magnified  and  made 
honorable  the  broken  law  of  God — he  had  pardon- 
ed her  many  offences — he  had  borne  with  her  in- 
firmities— he  had  sustained  her  in  many  a  severe 
conflict — he  had  heard  her  prayers — he  had  pro- 
mised her  a  crown  of  victory — he  had  supported 
her  through  many  a  long  and  trying  season  of  un- 
utterable suffering  ;  and  he  was  precious,  very  pre- 
cious to  her  soul — he  was  her  all.  When  he  with- 
drew the  tokens  of  his  favor,  she  could  not  rest. 
She  always  sought  quickly  an  "  absent  God."  In 
all  his  offices  as  Mediator,  Jesus  was  precious. 
Prophet,  Priest  and  King,  all  were  necessary,  and 
her  own  un worthiness  only  enhanced  the  value  of 
his  redemption. 

Another  feature  of  her  piety  was  love  of  the  truth. 

She  loved  it  for  its  own  sake,  and  hesitated  not  to 
bow  to  its  decisions,  however  much  it  cost  her. 
Whatever  the  word  of  God  said  was  her  law.  In- 
struction she  took  fast  hold  of  as  her  life,  and  the 


HANNAH    HOBDIE.  231 

channels  through  which  it  was  communicated  were 
precious  to  her.  She  delighted  in  the  works  of 
creation,  because  they  told  her  much  respecting 
God,  and  set  before  her  the  evidences  of  his  power, 
and  skill,  and  goodness.  His  providence  was  a  pre- 
cious book,  because  it  taught  her  so  many  lessons 
of  heavenly  wisdom,  and  purified  her  heart  by  the 
afflictions  which  it  laid  upon  her  and  the  mercies 
which  it  bestowed. 

"  Each  opening  leaf,  and  every  stroke, 
"  Fulfili'd  some  deep  design." 

But  in  her  view,  God  had  magnified  his  word 
above  all  his  name.  When  she  had  strength  to 
read,  searching  the  Scriptures  was  her  delightful 
employment.  The  Bible  was  her  constant  com- 
panion through  all  her  sickness — under  all  her  sor- 
rows. I  never  recollect  visiting  her  when  the 
same  Bible  did  not  lie  on  her  pillow  or  on  the  small 
table  at  her  bed  side.  She  was  also  in  the  daily 
habit  of  reading  a  small  portion  of  Scott's  Com- 
mentary. She  did  not  read  the  Bible  as  a  task, — 
because  conscience  would  upbraid  her  if  she  did 
not, — but  because  she  loved  it,  and  desired  to  hide 
the  truth  in  her  heart. 

She  loved  the  law  of  God  because  it  was  holy — 
its  claims  right — its  requirements*  reasonable — its 
principles  pure — promoting  the  good  of  all  who 
obey  it.    But  she  knew  that  salvation  could  not 


232  MEMOIR   OF 

come  by  the  law ;  and  the  Gospel,  which  revealed 
Jesus  Christ,  as  "  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteous- 
ness to  every  one  that  believeth/'  was  precious,  be- 
cause it  showered  its  rich  and  heavenly  blessings 
upon  the  returning  prodigal,  while  all  the  perfec- 
tions of  God  remained  untarnished,  and  all  the  prin- 
ciples of  his  government  undisturbed. 

She  loved  the  influence  of  truth  upon  her  own 
heart;  it  purified,  it  elevated  her  purposes,  and  al- 
lied her,  in  character  and  effort,  to  God  himself,  to 
Christ,  to  angels,  and  all  holy  beings  in  the  uni- 
verse. 

The  'preaching  of  the  Gospel  was  always  esteem- 
ed by  her  a  great  privilege.  In  listening  to  it,  she 
would  recline  upon  her  bed  as  quietly  as  her  pains 
would  allow,  and  sometimes  seem  entirely  to  forget 
them,  fixing  her  eye  upon  the  speaker,  with  its  sub- 
dued and  meek,  but  earnest  expression,  evidently 
drinking  in  every  word.  Sometimes  I  have  observed 
her,  after  such  close  and  absorbing  attention,  closing 
her  eyes,  and  though  not  a  muscle  of  her  face  mov- 
ed, the  tear  would  steal  down  her  cheek  and  tell 
what  truth  was  doing  within. 

If  at  any  time  her  heart,  in  its  iniquity,  was  trou- 
blesome, she  would  go  to  the  Bible  to  learn  how  to 
keep  it.  If  her  faith  was  weak  and  wavering,  the 
Bible  was  her  instructor  how  to  secure  its  increase. 
If  she  felt  in  darkness  she  went  to  it  to  find  a  pro- 
mise to  rest  upon,  or  some  principle  of  the  divine 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  233 

government  disclosed,  upon  which  she  could  stay 
herself  in  safety,  and  wait  for  the  morning.  When 
she  thought  of  sin  and  hell,  she  would  find  what 
Christ  had  done  to  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil; 
and  when  the  terrors  of  the  grave,  the  judgment, 
and  eternity  threatened,  she  would  look  for  the  as- 
surance of  a  glorious  resurrection  and  an  unfading 
inheritance  in  heaven. 

Another  striking  trait  of  her  christian  character 
was  her  love  and  regard  for  the  Sabbath. 

How  often  have  we  read  in  the  preceding  pages 
expressions  like  this :  "  Blessed  Sabbath,  day  of 
rest  /"  How  often  have  we  seen  the  overflowings 
of  her  grateful  heart  for  such  a  precious  institution. 
She  was  M  in  the  Spirit, "  usually  "  on  the  Lord's 
day."  She  hailed  it  as  often  as  it  returned  as  a  wel- 
come, joyful  season  of  peculiar  devotion  and  com- 
munion with  God.  She  obeyed  the  command  to 
keep  the  Sabbath  holy,  with  delight;  and  found,  in 
this  duty,  usually  high  enjoyment.  She  was  in  the 
habit  of  renewedly  dedicating  herself  to  God  every 
Lord's  day ;  and  this  weekly  consecration  of  herself 
made  the  Sabbath  a  peculiar  delight.  It  is  one  of 
the  sweetest  feelings  attendant  on  religion  to  givo 
all  to  the  Lord — to  surrender  ourselves  and  all  that 
is  near  and  dear  to  us  into  the  Savior's  hands. 

"  Sweet  in  the  confidence  of  faith, 
"  To  trust  his  firm  decrees  j 
20* 


234  MEMOIR   OF 

11  Sweet  to  lie  passive  in  his  hands, 
"  And  know  no  will  but  his." 

And  no  season  is  more  congenial  to  such  a  heaven- 
ly state  of  feeling  than  the  Sabbath.  This  was  fre- 
quently Hannah's  Sabbath  blessing. 

It  is  comforting  to  find  in  these  days  of  general 
disregard  of  the  Lord's  day,  any  that  highly  value 
it.  It  was  to  her  an  excellent  means  of  maintaining 
a  habit  of  devotion.  She  found  it  salutary,  even 
shut  out  as  she  was  from  the  busy  scenes  of  life ;  as 
it  broke  in,  at  frequent  and  stated  intervals,  upon 
the  cares  and  anxieties  of  the  world,  and  kept  the 
heart  free  from  the  fetters  which  otherwise  would 
have  been  bound  around  it.  It  was  to  her  a  delight- 
ful employment,  in  the  calmness  of  the  Sabbath 
morning,  to  call  off  the  mind  from  every  other  ob- 
ject, and  let  the  whole  soul  hold  intercourse  with 
heaven.  It  made  her  familiar  with  the  holy  em- 
ployments and  animating  scenes  of  the  eternal  Sab- 
bath on  high.  She  could  not,  indeed,  go  up  to  the 
house  of  God  with  the  multitude  of  his  people  to 
keep  holy  day,  but  still  the  delight  of  her  soul  in 
the  Sabbath  was  great.  Her  testimony  in  respect 
to  the  Sabbath,  throughout  her  whole  course  is, 
keep  it  holy.  If  you  wish  the  strong  exercise  of 
faith,  the  power  of  godliness  to  reign  within  you, 
the  smiles  of  your  heavenly  Father,  and  rapid 
growth  in  grace,  remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep 
it  holy  ;  value  it  as  one  of  your  greatest  blessings. 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  235 

Another  feature  of  her  piety  was  her  love  of 
prayer. 

It  was  the  channel  of  communication  between 
God  and  her  soul.  It  was  the  key  which  unlocked 
the  treasuries  where  every  good  and  every  perfect 
gift  is  stored.  If  she  needed  grace,  she  went  to 
her  Heavenly  Father,  and  asked  and  obtained  it 
through  Jesus  Christ.  If  she  needed  forgiveness, 
she  sought  it  in  prayer,  and  found  it.  If  pain  and 
distress  came  upon  her,  she  prayed  that  the  afflic- 
tion might  be  removed,  or  if  that  were  not  best, 
that  it  might  be  good  for  her,  and  that  she  might 
submit  with  patient  resignation.  In  trials  sharp  and 
fiery,  she  plead  that  God  would  help  her,  and  that 
right  early,  and  make  all  work  together  for  her 
good. 

She  found  the  influence  of  prayer  upon  her  own 
soul  to  be  sweet  and  tranquilizing.  God  was  the 
source  of  her  spiritual  as  well  as  her  natural  life, 
and  she  went  to  him  for  every  supply.  Every 
event — all  things — were  under  his  control,  and  she 
knew  that  through  prayer  alone  the  whole  could 
further  her  eternal  good. 

Besides,  she  had  been  renewed  in  the  spirit  of 
her  mind,  and  therefore  delighted  in  communion 
with  God.  A  partaker  of  the  divine  nature,  she 
loved  every  thing  that  tended  to  produce  conformi- 
ty to  the  Divine  image.  Prayer,  while  it  reminded 
her  of  her  poverty  and  wretchedness,  and  broke 


236  MEMOIR   OF 

down  the  pride  of  her  heart,  brought  her  nigh  unto 
God,  through  Jesus  the  Savior — the  great  Advo- 
cate ;  and  she  felt  a  pure  delight  in  the  privilege 
of  coming  even  to  his  seat.  It  soothed  her  troubled 
spirit  to  come  near  to  the  throne  of  grace,  and  our 
her  supplications  into  an  ear  that  never  was  heavy, 
and  lean  upon  an  all-sufficient  Friend,  who  felt  so 
tenderly  for  all  his  people. 

We  find  her  praying  as  often  as  four  or  five 
times  a  day  statedly ;  besides  the  many  short  but 
precious  interviews  with  the  Savior,  which  she  en- 
joyed as  occasion  called  her  to  his  feet  for  help. 
She  loved  to  pray,  for  she  was  well  assured  that 
God  had  often  heard  her,  and  sent  in  answer  to 
prayer  the  richest  blessings  both  upon  herself  and 
others.  She  felt  in  this  employment  like  one  who 
enjoys  frequent  interviews  with  a  kind  and  faithful 
parent;  secure  of  sympathy,  and  esteeming  the 
near  relationship  as  priceless,  because  that  parent 
is  able  to  do  all  that  could  be  desired,  and  has  never 
denied  one  reasonable  request.  She  believed  that 
the  promises  of  God  were-  all  meant  to  express  fully 
and  clearly  what  they  do  express;  and  trusting 
God  according  to  his  own  words,  she  came  near, 
and  with  the  simplicity  of  a  child,  spread  out  her 
desires  before  him. 

Another  trait  in  her  christian  character  was  her 
love  for  the  people  of  God. 

They  were  her  chosen,  her  dearly-loved  com- 


HANNAH    IIORRIE.  237 

panions.  She  took  great  delight  in  christian  socie- 
ty, and  always  appeared  to  be  unfeignedly  thankful 
when  she  received  a  truly  christian  visit  from  a  de- 
voted and  heavenly-minded  follower  of  Christ. 
Such  visits  were  seasons  of  sweet  refreshing,  and 
she  always  imparted  double  for  all  that  she  receiv- 
ed. I  ever  felt  that  my  visits  were  the  greater 
blessing  to  myself.  It  seemed,  as  I  bent  over  her 
to  catch  the  feeble  tones  of  her  voice,  like  holding 
communion  with  one  who  had  outstripped  me  in 
the  race,  and  obtained  clearer  views  of  the  promised 
land,  because  she  stood  nearer  its  borders  and  had 
gained  the  summit  which  overlooked  it.  Some- 
times I  could  hardly  divest  myself  of  the  impres- 
sion that  I  was  listening,  breathless,  to  catch  the 
distant  sound  of  her  voice  calling  me,  from  the 
more  elevated  position  which  she  occupied,  to 
come  up  and  contemplate  with  her  the  glories 
which  lay  beyond. 

She  took  little  interest  in  any  conversation  relat- 
ing merely  to  the  things  of  this  world.  Her  soul 
seemed  to  be  absorbed  in  the  great  things  of  God's 
grace  and  kingdom  ;  she  loved  them  all ;  and  when 
others  loved  them  too,  there  was  between  them  a 
flowing  together  of  souls.  The  Savior's  image,  en- 
etamped  upon  any,  of  any  denomination,  was  al- 
ways current  with  her,  for  she  delighted  in  the 
kindred  spirit,  wherever  it  was  found. 
,      Another   trait  of   her   christian   character  was 


238  MEMOIR   OF 

anxiety  for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  and  the  progress 
of  the  Redeemer's  cause. 

Her's  was  not  that  selfish  feeling  of  satisfaction 
with  the  mere  evidences  of  personal  safety  which 
I  am  afraid  prevails  to  an  alarming  extent,  while 
the  good,  especially  the  eternal  salvation  of  others, 
is  almost  wholly  disregarded.  Her  heart  was  not 
only  opened  to  receive  the  truth,  but,  under  its  ef- 
fects, it  was  enlarged  with  ardent  desires  for  the 
salvation  of  men.  She  knew  the  dreadful  bondage 
of  sin  from  painful  experience,  and,  to  use  one  of 
her  own  expressions,  "pitied"  greatly  pitied  those 
who  were  still  its  slaves.  She  knew  their  blindness 
of  mind  and  their  hardness  of  heart — that  they  laved 
to  have  it  so,  and  that  distressed  her  the  more.  She 
knew  they  stood  upon  slippery  places,  that  their 
feet  would  soon  slide,  and  that  tremendous  ruin 
awaited  them.  Besides,  she  considered  sinners 
as  the  enemies  of  God,  whom  she  loved.  They 
were  trying  to  ruin  his  cause ;  uniting  their  influ- 
ence against  the  Savior,  whose  honor  to  her  was  so 
dear.  They  were  tramplmg  the  beloved  of  her  soul 
under  foot,  despising  the  calls  of  his  mercy,  and 
making  light  of  the  agonies  of  his  crucifixion.  All 
this  grieved  her  deeply.  She  wished  them  to  be 
saved  from  everlasting  death  ;  and  greatly  desired 
to  see  them  gathering  with  Christ,  and  not  scatter- 
ing abroad.  She  rejoiced,  therefore,  with  great 
joy  when  any  turned  to  the  Lord ;  for  so  far  the 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  239 

ranks  of  hell  were  weakened,  and  those  of  her  Mas- 
ter strengthened. 

She  longed  for  the  day  to  come  when  all  should 
be  of  one  heart  and  one  mind,  and  live  in  love,  and 
give  their  strength,  purified  and  sanctified,  to  the 
service  of  her  Lord  and  Master.  She  wanted  all 
to  possess  an  eternal  inheritance,  and  wear  an  un- 
fading crown.  It  is  not  strange,  then,  that  in  those 
revivals  of  religion  which  existed  around  her  be- 
fore she  died  she  took  so  deep  an  interest.  It 
seemed  to  put  new  life  into  her  own  heart  when 
sinners  turned  to  the  Lord,  for  they  were  gained 
over  to  the  side  which  she  loved,  and  on  which  she 
had  taken  a  stand  so  decided.  As  long  as  she  lived 
she  felt  it  a  privilege  to  do  what  she  could  for  the 
salvation  of  sinners. 

Another  striking  feature  of  her  piety  was  her 
efforts  to  do  good. 

It  is  painful  to  witness  the  apathy  of  multitudes 
who  profess  to  be  the  followers  of  Christ,  and  their 
habitual  neglect  of  effort  to  save  sinners — to  see  them 
idle  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  even  in  the  possession 
of  firm  health,  and  apparently  contented,  while 
hardly  evincing  a  desire  to  spend  and  be  spent  in 
the  Lord's  service.  The  aged  can  look  back  with- 
out alarm  upon  a  long  series  of  years  in  which 
they  have  made  few  if  any  efforts  for  the  salvation 
of  a  single  soul.  The  young,  in  all  the  vigor  of 
youthful  enterprise,  are  laying  plans  to  consume 


240  MEMOIR   OF 

their  years  and  spend  their  strength  in  the  pursuit 
of  worldly  interests,  and  not  in  labors  and  sacrifices 
for  the  salvation  of  men.  Such  was  not  the  piety 
of  Hannah  Hobbie. 

She  was  anxious  to  do  something  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls — to  spend  what  little  strength  she  had 
in  doing  good  and  glorifying  God.  Few  would 
have  done  any  thing  situated  as  she  was ; — nothing 
would  have  been  attempted.  Sickness  is  often 
considered  a  plea  for  giving  up  every  thing  like  ac- 
tive effort ;  but  her  views  of  obligation  were  such 
that  she  could  not  rest  while  any  strength  and  op- 
portunity remained  to  promote  the  Savior's  cause. 
Her  obedience  to  his  commands  was  cheerful ',  and 
therefore  universal  and  persevering  ;  as  she  loved 
God's  work,  she  panted  continually  after  more  ex- 
tensive usefulness.  Having  done  what  she  had 
purposed,  she  devised  other  plans  of  doing  good, 
that  she  might  still  pursue  her  Master's  work. 

Think  of  her  practice  of  conversing  with  the  im- 
pe?rite?it  friends  who  visited  her  on  the  subject  of 
their  salvation — of  the  letters  written  from  her  sick 
bed,  all  breathing  an  ardent  desire  to  be  useful,  and 
some  of  them  expressly  designed  as  a  personal  ef- 
fort for  the  salvation  of  a  soul.  Think  of  a  suffer- 
ing and  feeble  young  female  exerting  successfully 
her  influence  to  form  those  of  her  own  sex  around 
her  into  a  society  fcrr  assisting  the  Missionary  and 
the   Tract  came;    endeavoring  also   to  assemble 


HANNAH    J10HB1E.  241 

around  her  sick  bed  her  sisters  in  Christ,  in  a  stated 
concert  of  prayer,  and  resolving  to  take  part  in  the 
necessary  exercises  of  the  meeting  ;  and  then  think 
of  such  an  one,  almost  wasted  away  by  years  of 
excrutiating  pain,  using  her  influence  with  her 
friends  to  collect  the  wandering  children  of  her 
destitute  neighborhood  into  a  Sabbath  school  ;  and 
when  she  found  those  efforts  fruitless,  girding  up 
her  own  loins  to  the  work,  and  gathering  them  every 
Sabbath  into  her  sick  chamber,  that  she  might  her- 
self instruct  them  in  eternal  things.  Think  of  all 
this,  ye  that  are  blest  with  health,  and  opportunity, 
and  means  to  do  good,  and  yet  neglecting  them  ; 
and  is  there  no  reason  to  fear  that  she  will  in  judg- 
ment rise  up  and  condemn  you  ] 

Such  activity  is  the  result  of  real  love  to  God. 
The  fellowship  of  christians  with  one  another,  and 
with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,  em- 
braces fellowship  of  effort.  God  is  love,  and  love 
is  ever  an  attribute  of  godliness,  and  an  active  and 
efficient  principle.  God  so  loved  the  world  that 
he  gave  his  Son  to  die  for  it ;  Jesus  so  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gave  for  it  his  life ;  the  Holy  Ghost 
so  loves  the  world,  that  he  strives  with  men  and  sanc- 
tifies the  heart ;  angels  so  love  the  world,  that  they 
delight  to  minister  to  the  heirs  of  salvation;  and 
christians  so  love  the  world,  that  they  are  willing  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  self-denying  labors  for  the 
salvation  of  men.     All  who  are  really  Christ's  are 

H.Hobbie.  21 


242  MEMOIR   OF 

to  rejoice  together  in  the  successful  issue  of  the 
great  enterprise  ;  and  unless,  from  the  same  com- 
mon principle  of  love,  pursuing  a  course  of  active 
exertion,  none  can  claim  affinity  with  the  blessed 
confederacy,  or  share  in  the  glories  of  their  future 
triumph. 

In  this  trait  of  her  christian  character  she  testi- 
fies to  the  practical  nature  of  true  godliness  ;  that 
faith  without  works  is  dead  ;  and  calls  out  from  the 
cloud  of  spectators  by  which  we  are  surrounded, 
"  Go  on  ;  run  with  patience  the  race  set  before  you, 
looking  unto  Jesus ;  and  then  come  and  wear  the 
crown  of  victory  he  has  graciously  prepared.' ' 

Some  think  that  to  prepare  for  death  it  is  neces- 
sary for  the  christian  to  relax  exertion  and  fall  back 
from  the  noise  and  bustle  of  active  warfare.  But 
Hannah  Hobbie  felt  that  she  must  press  foncard, 
endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier,  and  continue, 
even  to  the  endy  to  fight  the  good  fight ;  that  she 
must  toil  on,  bearing  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day,  and  never  give  over  till  she  lifted  her  dying 
eye  at  once  to  heaven  and  to  the  banner  that  float- 
ed over  her,  and  laid  her  bones  upon  the  field  of 
battle. 

She  has  trodden  the  path  before  us,  and  shown, 
in  her  self-denying  and  persevering  adherence  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  what,  by  Divine  aid,  may  he  do?ie, 
and  what  tve  ought  to  do.  She  calls  upon  us  to  fol- 
low the  Savior,  and  do  all  that  we  can  for  his  glory 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  243 

on  earth,  that  we  may  reign  with  him  as  kings  and 
priests  unto  God  for  ever  and  ever.  That  we  may 
be  qualified  to  serve  God  faithfully,  and  cheerfully 
devote  all  to  him.  She  calls  upon  us  to  live  near  to 
him;  to  pray  without  ceasing  ;  to  keep  hold,  by  faith, 
of  his  covenant,  and  draw  upon  his  fulness  daily, 
that  we  may  receive  grace  for  grace;  that  we  may 
endure  as  seeing  him  who  is  invisible ;  and  in  the 
strength,  and  through  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  be  brought  off  at  last  conquerors  and  more 
than  conquerors. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


Having  seen  in  the  traits  of  Miss  Hobbie's  chris- 
tian character  her  testimony  for  the  truth,  as  one  of 
the  "  great  cloud  of  witnesses  "  we  come  back  to 
the  narrative,  to  mark  a  little  further  how  God,  in 
his  providential  dealings  with  her,  illustrated  the 
import  of  his  M  exceeding  great  and  precious  pro- 
mises" to  his  ])eople. 

I  visited  her  near  the  last  of  February,  and  found 
her  very  weak  and  in  great  pain.  She  welcomed 
me  with  a  smile,  and  pressed  my  hand  with  more 
than  usual  fervor.  I  knew  her  time  must  be  very 
short,  for  I  had  seen  the  frail  tabernacle  giving 
way  under  the  pressure  of  the  violent  and  long-con- 


244  MEMOIR   OP 

tinued  storms  which  had  beaten  upon  it.  The  re- 
sult of  this  interview  was  what  might  have  been 
expected.  It  appeared  more  clear  than  ever  that 
her  spirit  was  about  to  mingle  with  purer  society, 
and  go  to  the  participation  of  higher  enjoyments 
and  brighter  scenes.  She  could  say  little  ;  but  every 
desire  seemed  fixed  above,  and  she  panted  for  the 
hour  when  all  her  sufferings  should  cease,  and  she 
be  admitted  to  the  delightful  companionship  of  the 
holy  and  the  happy  in  a  brighter  world. 

"  Hannah,"  said  I,  tc  is  God  a  present  help  in 
this  time  of  need  V9 

In  her  faint  and  mellow  voice,  frequently  inter- 
rupted by  pauses  to  catch  breath,  she  said,  "  He 
is — he  always  has  been — since  I  first  trusted  him — 
and  I  am  sure  he  will  never  leave  me  nor  for- 
sake me." 

"  Do  you  have  any  distressing  anxiety  on  that 
subject  of  late  V 

"  None  at  all,  sir. — God  has  kindly,  for  a  long 
time — enabled  me  to  trust  him, — and  I  cannot  fear 
while  I  have  such  a  Friend — as  Jesus.  I  am  per- 
suaded— that  he  is  able  to  keep  all  that  I  have  com? 
mitted  to  him  ; — and  I  have  had  so  many — proofs  of 
his  willingness — to  do  every  thing  for  me — that  I 
need, — that  I  should  be  most  ungrateful — to  dis- 
trust him  now — I  have  perfect  peace." 

u  Do  you  feel  any  impatience  under  tne  Lord's 
dealings  now  V 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  245 

M  I  sometimes  think, — as  I  can  do  no  more  good 
in  the  world, — I  had  rather  be  taken — to  rest ;  but 
if  I  can  yet  glorify  God — by  suffering  longer — I 
ought  not  to  murmur.  All  is  right — as  it  is  ; — but 
I  feel  a  desire  to  depart,  though — I  sometimes  feel 
it  to  be  wrong." 

V  Hannah,"  said  I,  M  what  do  you  now  think  of 
all  your  past  sufferings  and  trials  ;  do  you  still  feel 
as  if  God  was  right  in  laying  them  upon  you." 

Ki  I  see  that  more  clearly — every  day;  and  I  praise 
him — more  and  more  for  them.  They  are  all  right, — 
just  as  they  should  be, — all  necessary — none  of 
them — could  have  been  spared." 

Said  I,  "  You  have  been  a  very  great  sufferer." 

"All  has  been  well  done,"  said  she;  "none  of 
them  could  have  been  spared" 

Her  sufferings  had  been  very  severe  for  years  ; 
but  all  teas  well  done.  At  this  time  she  had  become 
so  emaciated — her  flesh  had  so  wasted  away,  that 
her  bones  had  worn  through  her  skin,  and  she 
could  not  be  moved,  even  in  her  bed,  without  great 
pain. 

Who  will  say  that  God  did  not  gloriously  illus- 
trate the  fullness  of  his  promises  in  her  history  ?  He 
did,  indeed,  dry  up  some  streams  of  earthly  comfort, 
but  opened  upon  her  the  livers  of  never-failing  de- 
light which  issue  from  his  throne.  He  was  her  ever- 
present,  her  never-failing  helper.  He  had  sup- 
21* 


246  MEMOIR   OP 

ported  her  in  all  her  trials — had  taken  a  gracious 
care  of  her — had  fulfilled  to  her  every  promise 
which  secures  good  to  his  chosen,  and  had  never 
forsaken  her.  All  this  had  been  done  through  years 
of  sharp  suffering  and  conflict.  Thus  far  he  had 
been  her  God. 

I  was  intimately  acquainted  with  her  feelings 
throughout  her  sickness,  and  never  saw  more  strik- 
ing evidence  that  the  riches  of  grace  were  magni- 
fied, than  in  her  case.  "  Grace  did  much  for  Han- 
nah Hobbie,"  has  been,  since  her  death,  a  common 
remark.  She  cast  all  her  care  upon  the  Savior,  and 
it  was  evident  throughout  that  he  cared  for  her. 

Her  spirit  was  always  tranquil.  She  knew  that 
all  she  suffered  was  sent  in  covenant  love ;  and  it 
was  her  great  object  to  study  the  design  of  God  in 
all  her  afflictions.  How  often  have  we  seen  her  ex- 
pressions of  praise  and  thanksgiving  for  her  many 
chastisements ! 

Her  spirit  was  always  heavenly,  and  at  times  her 
enjoyment  in  God  was  very  great.  What  but  the 
fulness  of  divine  promises  fulfilled  could  have  given 
her  such  a  likeness  to  God,  and  such  unspeakable 
joy  and  peace  in  believing  1  Let  the  infidel  talk  of 
the  supports  of  philosophy, — we  will  unite  with 
Hannah  in  singing  of  the  covenant  faiihfidness  of 
God,  and  rejoicing  in  the  fullness  of  his  redemp- 
tion and  the  stability  of  his  promises. 

Hannah's   christian  life,   which   had  been  of  a 


HANNAH    HOBCIE.  247 

character  so  highly  spiritual,  shone  brighter  and 
brighter ;  and  the  perfect  day  was,  in  her  own  opi- 
nion, as  well  as  in  that  of  others,  fast  hastening, 
when  she  should  see  as  she  was  seen,  and  know  as 
she  was  known.  To  the  last  she  continued  to  pos- 
sess the  same  sweet  spirit  of  acquiescence  in  the 
will  of  God  ;  ever  praising  him  that  she  was  thus 
supported,  that  she  had  so  many  mercies,  and  that 
her  sufferings  were  so  much  lighter  than  her  sins. 
As  she  drew  near  the  close  of  life,  she  saw  still 
more  clearly  the  evil  of  her  own  heart ;  but  it  kept 
her  nearer  the  cross,  and  called  forth  more  full  and 
frequent  expressions  of  thanksgiving  and  praise 
that  all  was  graciously  forgiven.  She  was  ripening 
fast  for  immortality,  and  waiting  for  her  deliver- 
ance. 

On  a  Lord's  day  I  received,  before  I  left  the 
church,  a  request  from  Hannah  to  see  her,  if  pos- 
sible, that  day ;  accompanied  by  an  intimation  from 
her  father,  who  brought  it,  that  it  would  probably 
be  our  last  interview  on  earth.  I  hastened  to  her, 
and  found  her  sinking  rapidly.  She  was  fully  aware 
that  her  end  was  approaching.  Her  conversation 
evinced  a  spirit  of  deep  self-abasement,  but  her 
heart  was  full  of  light  and  joy,  as  she  indulged  the 
humble  but  assured  expectation  of  soon  resting 
from  all  her  trials  upon  her  Savior's  bosom.  She 
stood  upon  the  summit  of  Pisgah,  and  was  taking 
a  calm  survey  of  the  billows  of  Jordan  as  they  lay 


248  MEMOIR   OP 

rolling  between  her  and  the  land  of  rest  which 
spread  out  its  glories  beyond.  She  was  collected, 
and  firm,  and  happy,  in  view  of  her  expected 
change.  She  had  long  been  waiting  for  it,  and  by 
grace  was  prepared  for  its  coming. 

Not  long  before  this  Mrs.  A spent  a  night 

wkh  her.  When  her  bed  had  been  prepared,  and 
she  had  been  laid  upon  it  for  the  night,  after  a 
season  evidently  spent  in  silent  prayer  she  sung  to 
a  plaintive  tune,  in  her  sweet,  and  feeble  voice, 
still  sweeter  because  almost  spent, 

"  Our  life,  how  short  I  a  groan,  a  sigh ; 
"  We  live — and  then  begin  to  die  j 
"But  Oh !  how  great  a  mercy  this, 
11  That  death's  the  portal  into  bliss ! 

"  My  soul !  death  swallows  up  thy  fears ; 
"  My  grave-clothes  wipe  away  all  tears ; 
"  Why  should  we  fear  this  parting  pain, 
"  Who  die  that  we  may  live  again  1" 

and  then  composing  herself,  was  soon  asleep.  Such 
was  her  heavenly  and  tranquil  spirit  in  view  of  the 
solemn  change  before  her: 

During  the  afternoon  she  called  me  to  her  bed- 
side, and  took  from  the  drawer  of  her  table,  and 
put  into  my  hands,  the  journal  from  which  such  re- 
freshing selections  have  been  made,  with  some 
other  papers ;  requesting  that  I  would  after  her  de- 
parture read  them,  as  comforting  remembrancers 


HANNAH    HOBBIE.  249 

that  I  had  been  useful  to  her,  and  then  return  them 
to  her  friends.  None  of  the  family  knew  until  that 
moment  that  such  a  journal  had  been  kept.  They 
had  often  seen  her  writing ;  but  knowing  that  she 
wrote  many  letters,  they  supposed  that  she  was 
employed  in  that  way.  I  went  to  the  window  to 
compose  my  feelings,  for  they  were  deeply  moved. 
While  standing  there  I  observed  that  a  soft  thin 
haze  was  spreading  itself  over  the  setting  sun  ;  the 
sparkle  and  the  glare  were  gone,  so  that  I  could 
look  upon  it ;  and  as  it  disappeared  in  its  mellow 
beauty,  it  seemed  an  emblem  of  the  immortal  spi- 
rit before  me,  about  to  fade  away  as  gently,  and 
pass  from  our  sight  in  the  same  mild  loveliness. 

She  had  already  given,  in  perfect  composure,  to 
the  family  such  directions  respecting  her  funeral 
as  she  thought  important,  and  they  all  savored  of 
her  wonted  humility  and  indifference  to  the  world. 

She  now  gave  me  the  text  for  her  funeral  ser- 
mon. It  was  Rev.  14  :  13.  "  And  I  heard  a  voice 
from  heaven,  saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are 
the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth ; 
yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.,,  In  the 
selection  of  this  text  there  was  no  ostentation ;  it 
was  the  simple  confidence  of  a  child  feeling  assu- 
rance from  a  Father^  pledges,  and  reposing  upon 
a  covenant  which  secured  the  sure  mercies  of  Da- 
vid to  every  penitent  believer. 


250  MEMOIR   OF 

In  the  morning  we  all  assembled  in  the  chamber 
of  the  dying  saint.  We  bowed  before  the  throne 
of  grace,  and  committed  her  with  full  hearts  and  a 
faltering  tongue  to  a  covenant-keeping  God  ;  pray- 
ing for  a  gentle  release  and  a  triumphant  depart- 
ure. It  was  a  melting  season  ;  we  were  filled  with 
an  awful  but  soothing  sense  of  the  presence  of 
God ;  and  eternity  appeared  very  near  to  us  all. 
She  wept  not.  Over  her  pale  and  sunken  features 
was  spread  the  strong  expression  of  exultation  and 
triumph ;  and  when  I  went  to  take  my  leave  of 
her,  she  pressed  my  hand  tenderly,  and  smiled : 

"We  part  for  a  little  season,"  said  she,  "my 
dear  pastor,  but  we  shall  meet  again.  I  thank  you 
for  all  your  kindness  to  me ;  I  shall  need  it  no 
more." 

There  was  a  pause. 1  turned  slowly  away, 

and  saw  her  no  more  in  the  flesh  :  but  "  we  shall 

MEET  AGAIN." 

My  mind  was  full  of  the  scenes  through  which  I 
had  just  passed,  and  before  proceeding  far  I  reined 
up  my  horse  and  looked  back  upon  the  house  in 
which  lay  the  dying  believer,  with  feelings  of  un- 
utterable interest.  I  doubted  not  that  the  angels 
of  God,  who  are  "  sent  forth  to  minister  to  them 
that  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation,"  were  there  on  their 
last  errands  of  love  to  Hannah.  A  light  snow  had 
fallen  during  the  night,  and  a  bright  sun  was  now 
pouring  its  beams  upon  it.    It  seemed  to  my  busy 


HANNAH  HOBBIE.  251 

imagination  a  pure  and  expressive  emblem  of  the 
robes  of  white  in  which  the  departing  spirit  of  my 
beloved  friend  would  so  soon  be  arrayed  in  her 
Master's  presence. 

In  the  midst  of  reflections  so  sweet  and  affect- 
ing I  gained  the  western  summit  of  the  hill,  where 
a  prospect  of  surpassing  grandeur  at  once  opened  on 
my  vision.  Among  the  finely  molded  hills  that 
lay  extended  to  the  northward,  arose  the  solitary 
spire  of  Montross.  To  the  northwest,  apparently 
at  my  feet,  but  scarcely  arresting  attention  amid 
the  splendors  of  the  scene,  lay  the  Stissin  Moun- 
tain. The  undulating  foreground  of  the  landscape 
beneath  me  was  beautifully  wrought  up  with  fields, 
and  farm-houses,  and  remnants  of  ancient  forests. 
Farther  on,  a  vast  expanse  of  country,  possessing 
the  same  general  features,  lay  spread  out  before 
me  for  scores  of  miles.  Across  the  middle  of  thi3 
field  of  view  could  be  distinctly  traced  from  north 
to  south,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  broad 
valley  of  the  Hudson.  In  the  distant  background, 
piled  up  almost  above  the  pathway  of  the  storm, 
the  lofty  and  imposing  Catskills,  in  the  wild  sub- 
i  limity  of  their  winter  scenery,  pushed  down  from 
the  north  their  huge  masses  upon  the  western  bor- 
der of  this  valley,  as  if  to  dispute  the  passage  of 
the  river,  and  then  by  a  bold  sweep  receded  to 
the  southwest.  The  dark  brown  of  their  crowning 
oaks  contrasted  strongly  with  the  dazzling  white- 


252  MEMOIR    OF 

ness  of  the  snow  which  covered  them,  and  deep* 
ened  into  heavier  lines  of  shading,  as  intervening 
elevations,  in  endless  succession,  lapped  upon  other 
continuations  of  the  far-extended  range,  till  they 
melted  away  in  the  distance,  and  were  lost  in  the 
line  of  soft  blue  haze  which  skirted  the  western 
horizon. 

Never  did  I  seem  so  surrounded  with  God. 
These  works  of  his  hands  were  full  of  beauty  and 
grandeur;  but  an  object  of  far  deeper  interest  was 
the  immortal  spirit  about  to  leave  these  scenes,  and 
rise  to  a  brighter  world  and  a  better  inheritance. 
As  a  vesture  shall  all  these  be  folded  up — the  ele- 
ments shall  melt  with  fervent  heat ;  but  not  a  jot 
nor  tittle  of  the  word  of  promise  upon  which  the 
believer  rests  for  an  eternal  kingdom,  and  an  un- 
fading crown,  shall  ever  fail. 

Two  days  after  this  I  received  intelligence  that 
Hannah  had  gone  to  her  rest,  and  a  request  to  at- 
tend her  funeral.  She  departed  on  the  21st  of 
March,  1831.  I  went  at  the  time  appointed.  There 
was  no  unusual  commotion  in  the  family  when 
Hannah  died.  All  felt  that  death  was  her  gain.  Her 
sufferings  had  been  extreme  and  protracted ;  and, 
amid  her  anxious  desires  to  depart  and  to  be  with 
Christ,  which  was  "far  better,"  she  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus,  as  softly  and  as  sweetly  as  an  infant  sinks  to 
repose  upon  its  mother's  bosom.  The  presence  of 
God  forsook  her  not ;  her  Savior  was  with  her  to 
the  last. 


HANNAH    H0BBI1.  253 

In  the  days  of  her  former  vanity,  while  pursuing 
her  voyage,  she  had  often  cast  her  anchor  upon 
the  treacherous  sands,  over  which  she  was  buffet- 
ing the  billows  and  trying  to  ride  out  the  storm ; 
but  it  would  not  keep  its  hold.  Wearied  with  the 
fruitless  efforts,  and  almost  overwhelmed  in  the 
deep  waters,  she  raised  her  loud  cry  for  help  to  him 
who  alone  can  give  it.  That  signal  of  distress  was 
heard  above  the  roaring  of  the  tempest ;  she  threw 
herself  upon  the  Savior's  omnipotence — cast  her 
anchor  M  within  the  vail,"  and  never  swung  from 
her  moorings  more. 

It  was  her  request  that  her  surviving  friends 
should  wear  no  weeds  of  mourning  on  account  of 
her  death ;  and  the  white  bonnets  of  her  sisters,  and 
the  plain  and  usual  apparel  of  the  family  at  her  fu- 
neral, appeared  to  me  more  suitable  and  touching — 
more  in  keeping  with  their  impressions  of  her  bet- 
ter condition  above,  than  studied  mourning-suits 
would  have  been. 

Agreeably  to  her  request,  I  6poke  from  the  text 
which  she  had  given  me  ;  and  endeavored  to  show 
wha  it  was  to  die  in  the  Lord,  and  to  point  out  the 
blessings  of  rest  and  recompense,  which,  through 
grace,  the  believer  who  has  gone  to  a  better  world, 
receives  from  henceforth.  I  called  upon  all  present 
to  seek  those  blessings,  and  be  followers  of  her 
who  through  faith  and  patience  had  become  an  in- 
heritor of  the  promises.    It  was  a  time  of  many 

H.  Hobbie.  22 


254  '  MEMOIR   OF 

tears ;  and  when  I  read  the  closing  record  of  her 
diary,  (which  follows,)  the  sobs,  which  for  some  time 
had  been  with  difficulty  suppressed,  burst  forth 
from  many  of  the  assembly. 

"  February  1.  The  Great  Disposer  of  events,  in 
the  wise  dispensations  of  his  will  towards  me,  has 
recently  taken  from  me  almost  entirely  the  use  of 
my  limbs.  Twelve  days  since  I  have  walked  a  step 
without  assistance ;  and,  alas  !  I  see  no  prospect  of 
regaining  the  loss.  I  have  however  abundant  cause 
to  bless  God  for  the  degree  of  resignation  with 
which  he  is  enabling  me  to  meet  these  trials,  which 
of  myself  I  could-  not  endure.  I  bless  him,  also,  that 
it  is  a  source  of  consolation  to  me  to  know  that  the 
cords  of  nature  are  breaking,  one  after  another,  and 
loosing  me  from  earth.  Although  the  process  should 
cost  me  many  a  sigh,  and  groan,  and  tear,  the  cords 
of  nature  which  bind  me  to  earth  must  be  sepa- 
rated; nature  must  be  dissolved  before  my  soul 
can  leave  these  mortal  shores  to  enjoy  the  more 
salubrious  and  delightful  atmosphere  of  Heaven." 

Here  I  delight  to  close  her  history.  The  last 
word  she  ever  wrote  was  Heaven;  the  place,  I 
doubt  not,  of  her  eternal  rest. 

At  the  close  of  the  services  I  went  to  the  coffin 
to  take  a  last  look  at  her  remains.  Her  features 
were  but  little  changed ;  and  over  them  was  still 


HANNAH    IIOBBIE.  255 

spread,  fixed  and  abiding  in  death,  something  like 
the  expression  of  exultation  and  triumph  which 
they  wore  when  I  last  saw  her.  Again  I  was  re- 
minded, by  the  white  folds  of  the  death-robe,  of 
the  bright  garments  in  which  she  was  now  clothed 
in  "Heaven" 

We  carried  her  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  the 
living,  and  placed  her  in  the  grave.  Soothing  and 
pleasant  associations  hang  around  the  christian's 
burial. — Jesus  had  lain  in  the  tomb  and  broken  its 
bars.  The  dark  chamber  looked  like  a  lovely  and 
a  hallowed  spot ;  and  I  said  within  myself,  as  we 
turned  away  in  silence  from  the  place,  This  mor- 
tal shall  put  on  immortality ;  and  this  corruptible 
shall  put  on  incorruption  :  "  We  shall  meet  again." 
Though  her  body  is  moldering  beneath  the  green 
sod  that  covers  it,  the  dwelling  of  her  spirit  is 
"  Heaven  ;"  and  I  am  sure  if  she  is  looking  down 
from  her  high  and  bright  abode  upon  things  below, 
and  should  see  a  single  soul,  by  means  of  this  little 
book,  turning  to  the  Lord,  she  would  mingle  her 
rejoicings  with  those  of  angels  over  that  repenting 
sinner,  and  strike  upon  her  golden  harp  a  higher 
note  of  praise  to  him  who  had  washed  from  sin 
with  his  own  blood,  and  purified  by  his  own  spirit, 
another  of  the  ruined  and  the  perishing. 

THE    END. 


DATE  DUE 


^ -,„. 

ghbbsu. 

GAYLORD 

PRINTED  IN  USA 

